Abstract

The introduction to our school’ students of the wonders of light and optics and its understanding can and should be made as extensively as possible. As soon as at kindergarten level!

A hands-on approach leading the students to observe experiment and discover themselves in a critical committed and active way the different aspects of light and optics should be employed at all school levels and must be the main driving pedagogical practice of all learning process of science and technology.

In this communication we present a series of experiments and support material designed in this hands-on perspective to be used to introduce the study of optics to kindergarten and early basic school students. A critical evaluation of the first results of the application of these material with students aged 4 to 10 years will be presented.

© 2009 Optical Society of America