The Blind Fireflies present…
… an introduction to refraction and reflection of light
Light is a broad subject.
We focus on:
 Reflection
 Refraction
 Dispersion
Level
 Preschool
 Primary school
 Secondary school
Ages
3 – 6 y/o
7 – 11 y/o
12 – 18 y/o
Preschool
Primary school
Secondary school
Have experience with the Maze
Explain the Maze
Build a Maze (optional)
Know that light travels in a straight line (rays/beams)
Know that light is reflected by mirrors
Know that reflection has specific angles
Calculate and predict reflection
angles
Know refraction
Calculate with refraction
Know the difference between light and darkness
Understand the difference between light and darkness
Know that light can be dispersed by prismatic tools (that light consists of several colours)
Know that colours of light can be filtered
Explain dispersion
Use correct terminology on the topic of light
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The Maze can have variable size, small
enough to be put on a table or that large, that
it fits better on the ground, surrounded by
pupils.
The room should have dimmed lights.
The Maze can be adapted to include angle
meters around the knobs and switches for
use in secondary school
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Torches
 white light
Lasers
 monochromatic light
Obstacles
 block any light
Mirrors
 reflection
Prisms
 dispersion
Filters
 filter one colour of light
(semi)transparent materials, like perspex
 refraction and reflection
Discoballs and hamsters  just for fun 
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Setup the Maze in a corner of the classroom
Let the pupils experiment with it in groups of
2 or 3.
Let them experiment 15-30 minutes with a
limited amount of guidance.
Finally, do a circle talk about their
experiences.
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Setup a large Maze somewhere in school
Give the pupils assignments like:
Use a torch, 2 mirrors and a prism and make
window 1 light up red and window 3 blue.
Don’t light anything else.
Let them experiment with as many students
at once as the Maze can support.
Finally, discuss in class the correct solutions
about their experiences.
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Use the assignments from primary school
Explain the pupils the laws of reflection and
refraction.
Let them predict by calculation the settings
needed to complete the assignments.
Check their answers and explain any
problems
Optionally, some pupils could do a (research)
project: They could build a Maze of Light
Role of the teacher
 Leader and instructor
 Not dominant
 Available for questions
 Responsibilty goes to pupils
Picture and perspective of science
 Science can be fun!
 Teamwork
 Social skills
 Science starts at young age
Connection to society
 Use museums and experiment centers
 Go visit or arrange a guest speaker
The “-ism”s
 Essentialism and Progressivism
recommended
 Depending on teacher: possibly
reconstructivism and/or perennialism
The use of ICT
 Simulation
 Games
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Make a computer simulator
Build a Maze with multiple levels
Adapt the Maze to teach shadows and
silhouets
We would like to thank you all for a wonderfull
two weeks!