A compact disk reflects white light in different directions. Shine a flashlight on it to see what happens. Change the positioning of the light on the CD. You’ll notice the various rainbow colors when a flashlight shines on it because the surface scatters the colors in the flashlight through refraction. Have students write frequently about their findings. Students in the sixth grade need to develop effective writing skills as soon as possible. Give students lab sheets where they record their discoveries and demonstrate that they understand the principles you are trying to teach them.
Purchase a prism. Prisms are pyramid-shaped crystal objects that scatter light and create a rainbow. When light hits the prism at the right angle, the light will shine through as a rainbow. Hang a prism or glass ornament in a window so that the sun shines light through the glass and creates a rainbow. Have students write down what they see. Help students in the sixth grade understand that scientific discoveries are ongoing. Give students the date at which refraction was discovered. Teach them about newer scientific discoveries regarding light that occurred in the past five years.
Put a mirror in a bowl. Use a protractor to determine the 30-degree angle that the students will point the mirror. Secure the mirror by embedding it partially in clay, which holds it in place. Turn the lights off and shine a flashlight toward the mirror. Write down what happens when you shine the flashlight on the mirror and explain why this happens. Light from the flashlight is white, meaning it contains several colors, but the mirror scatters the white light and sends the colors in several different directions.
Wait until two hours before or after noon. Spray a hose into the sunlight. Determine if you can create a rainbow. Explain why you were able to create one. Try creating a rainbow at other times of the day and explain why you were able to or not able to create the rainbow. Use rainbow experiments to teach students in the sixth grade about how variables can significantly change the outcome of an experiment. You also can go to a location with light and hold a glass of water over paper. Try to have the light shine through and determine if a rainbow appears on the paper. Raise or lower the glass slowly to determine if it changes the appearance of the rainbow.