Make like Isaac Newton
It’s great to think that the scientist Isaac Newton made all his ground-breaking discoveries at a time (1642 – 1727) when there were no hi-tech tools. Just shows that you don’t need fancy gear to have great ideas. He worked out that light is made of different colours – as in a rainbow. How? By shining daylight through a hole in the door and onto his prism. Your kids can split light up too! Here’s how:
1. Put some water in a shallow dish.
2. Prop up a small mirror in the water at an angle.
3. Place the dish near a window and position the mirror so that sunlight hits it.
The light passes through the water and bounces off the mirror, making a faint rainbow appear on the wall.
And while they’re at it, why not learn the colours of the rainbow? Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.
I like this science experiment website for kids.
Follow this up with a quick watch of our ten-minute film about Isaac Newton for ages 6 – 100. Factually accurate, funny and informative – a clever way to spend the afternoon!
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