Split a Sunbeam

Purpose: Learn how light can turn into a rainbow and explore the science behind it through a fun experiment, creative art, and imaginative storytelling.

Materials Required:

• A piece of cardboard
• Scissors
• Tape
• A clear glass of water
• A white sheet of paper
• A flashlight or another light source

Instructions: 

1. Set Up:

• Cut a small vertical slit in the cardboard. The slit should be narrow, so just a tiny bit of light can pass through.
• Tape the cardboard to the side of the glass of water, making sure the slit lines up with the middle of the glass.
• Place the glass on the white sheet of paper.

2. Make a Rainbow:

• Shine the flashlight through the slit in the cardboard into the water. Watch as a rainbow appears on the paper!

Explanation: Light is made up of many colors all mixed together. When the light passes through the water, it bends and separates into these colors, just like how a prism works. This is why you see a rainbow after it rains—raindrops act like tiny prisms!

3. Get Creative:

• Look closely at the rainbow. Can you see all the colors? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet are the colors of the rainbow. These colors always appear in the same order.
• Ask your child to draw the rainbow they see. They can also draw what they imagine the colors might do next. Maybe they turn into colorful characters in a magical land!

Explanation: Each color bends differently because it has a unique wavelength, which is like the "size" of the light wave. Red light bends the least, and violet bends the most, which is why they appear at opposite ends of the rainbow.

4. Tell a Rainbow Story:

• Make up a story about where the rainbow came from or where it’s going. Maybe the colors are on a journey to find something special. Have your child write down their story, or tell it out loud to each other.

5. Try New Things:

• Experiment with different light sources, like an LED light or sunlight, and see how the rainbow changes. Does it look the same, or is it brighter or dimmer?

Different light sources have different intensities, meaning they can be stronger or weaker. This changes how bright or colorful the rainbow appears.

6. Share Your Work:

• Once you’re done, share your drawing and story with each other. Talk about what you learned and what was most exciting about seeing the rainbow.