Light & Colour

  1. Homemade Spectrometer

    Homemade Spectrometer

    Homemade Spectrometer

    Turns out theres a lot more to white light than meets the eye. Here's a simple spectrometer you can build yourself, using just a spare CD, an empty cereal box and a pair of scissors.

    Suitable for kids aged 11 +
    You Need:
    • Cereal box
    • Compact Disk
    • Utility knife/Scissor
    • Protractor
    What to do:
    1. Cut a 1" slit on the side of the cereal box just below the nutrition information.
    2. Cut a slit
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  2. Split Light To Make A Rainbow

    Split Light To Make A Rainbow

    Split light without a prism

    Want to make a rainbow but dont have a prism? Heres a simple way to make one anytime the sun is shining. Youll be beaming from ear-to-ear.

    Suitable for kids aged 5 +
    You Need:
    • Shallow dish
    • White wall (or large piece of white paper/card)
    • Small mirror
    • Water
    • Sunlight (the stronger the better)
    What to do:
    1. Pour some water into the shallow dish.
    2. Place the small mirror in the water and prop it at an angle against the side of the dish.
    3. Put the dish near a sunny window and position the mirror so that sunlight bounces
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  3. Wax Photometer

    Wax Photometer

    Wax Photometer

    Make your own translucent photometer out of paraffin wax that can read light and colour.

    Suitable for kids aged 6+ with parental supervision

    CAUTIONIf you are unable to source your own paraffin wax blocks you will need to make your own. Wax blocks must strictly be prepared by an adult as they involve melting wax and pouring the hot wax into a mould.
    You Need:
    • Two small paraffin wax blocks (approx. 8 x 5 x 2cm). If you cant source your own from a supermarket or candle supply centre then you will have to make your own. Instructions in the What to do section.
    • Aluminium foil
    • Scissors
    • Masking tape
    • Torch (optional)
    • Sheets of coloured
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  4. Water Drop Magnifier

    Water Drop Magnifier

    Water Drop Magnifier

    Its so simple to make your own mini magnifying glass. Heres how.

    Suitable for kids aged 4+

    You Need:
    • Small square of fairly-rigid transparent plastic (You can cut-up a clear acetate sheet, or a transparency available from art and craft stores and/or office supply stores. A piece of plastic from a shirt box or the like would also work)
    • Half a straw
    • Stapler
    • Drop of water
    • Eye dropper bottle or pipette (optional)
    What to do:
    1. Staple the straw to the edge of
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