Activity 1

[Sandy Shutey]

My students felt this was very similar to what we did in activity 5.   To show how to make a refracting telescope or microscope was neat but it was almost like a repeat of what we had done in 5.  I liked adding the math here but it could just as easily be added in the first chapter on light, mirrors and lenses.  They enjoyed making their own telescope and discussing how the real image is formed so that the second lens picks it up but we had done something like that in 5 too.
I would like to see chapter 5 changed so that the idea of light and EM waves are in one section and then mirrors and lenses with practical uses in a second section or chapter.

[Eisenkraft]

Thanks for the post.  When students can recognize an activity as one that they had experience with earlier in the year - you and they are succeeding.  I would expect that the new activity would take less time or can be made more of an open  inquiry.  This will reinforce their understandings and/or extend them.