Optics and children

• Author(s): Costa, Manuel F. M. ; Campos, J. Ayres de ; Lira, Madalena ; Franco, Sandra ; Vazquez-Dorrio, José B.
• Date: 2011
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/13015
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Optics; Kindergarden
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

Light and Optics are subjects that “naturally” attracts the interest and sympathy of children even from very early ages. In this communication, we present a serie of experiments and support material designed in this hands-on perspective, to be used to introduce the study of light and optics to kindergarten and early basic school students. Our hands-on investigative approach leads the students, aged 4 to 10 years, to observe the experiment and discover themselves, in a critical and active way, different aspects of light and optics. Preparing funny eye catching situations and experiments predispose the children to work, effectively, enjoying themselves while building up their self-confidence.