Light Swords - A STEM Design Challenge for Students

Calling All Young Space Adventurers: Design Your Light Sword for a Space Adventure! This activity is perfect for students to extend their thinking and apply their research and design knowledge to a popular STEM theme, space. Students will research, design, and write connecting multiple skills. This activity is designed to be done hands on. See materials list below to see if this fits your needs in advance.

 

Description:

Calling all space adventurers! Light swords are the iconic weapons of space adventurers, but have you ever wondered how these elegant blades actually work? Today, you won't be wielding the Force, but you'll be using the power of science to explore the real-world concepts behind light swords!

 

Get ready to build your own mini-light swords and embark on a scientific adventure! We'll be constructing light swords from everyday materials and then using them to investigate the fascinating properties of light.

 

Prepare to:

• Become a light sword engineer: Build your own mini-light sword using simple materials.
• Feel the "Force" (of Light): Explore how light travels and bends through your light blade.
• Unleash the power of color mixing: Engage in light sword duels and witness the science of color mixing firsthand!

 

This activity is perfect for young space trainees who are curious about science. No prior knowledge is required, just a willingness to experiment and have fun! So grab your light sword building supplies and get ready to discover the science behind these legendary weapons!

 

Science and Engineering Practices (SEP):

• Science and Engineering Practices:

  • Constructing Explanations: Students will explain their observations about how light travels through the plastic light sword blade (possibly including refraction if they bend the plastic).
  • Observing Phenomena: Students will use their senses to observe how light interacts with the plastic light sword blade.
  • Planning and Carrying Out Investigations: Students will follow a simple set of instructions to build their light sword and then conduct experiments to explore how light travels and bends.

Overall, the focus of this activity leans more towards science practices than specific content standards. However, it can be a stepping stone for introducing core ideas about light and can be connected to broader science and engineering practices.

 

Included in this activity:

✔ Student handout

✔ Student example

✔ Teacher instructions

✔ Grading rubric

✔ DOCX and PDF Versions of each file.

 

Materials List:

• Student worksheet (provided)
• Flashlights (enough for each student or pair)
• Transparent plastic sheets (cut from recycled water bottles or food containers)
• Scissors (enough for each student or pair)
  
• Markers (one set per table group)
  
• Tape (optional but recommended, for student use)