Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will learn how rainbows are formed and why they appear in the sky.

Materials and Prep

• Clear glass of water
• Flashlight
• White paper
• A sunny day

No special knowledge needed, just curiosity and enthusiasm!

Activities

• Rainbow in a Glass: Fill the glass with water and place it on the white paper. Shine the flashlight through the water onto the paper. Observe the rainbow that appears on the paper.
• Find a Real Rainbow: Wait for a sunny day and look for a rainbow in the sky after it rains. Try to spot the different colors in the rainbow.
• Rainbow Art: Use colored pencils or markers to draw your own rainbow. Remember the order of the colors in a rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet).

Talking Points

• What is a rainbow?
  "A rainbow is a beautiful arc of colors that appears in the sky after it rains."
• How are rainbows formed?
  "Rainbows are formed when sunlight is refracted, or bent, by raindrops in the air."
• Why are there different colors in a rainbow?
  "Each color in a rainbow has a different wavelength, which is why we see them separated in the sky."
• Can you touch a rainbow?
  "No, you cannot touch a rainbow because it is made of light and water droplets. It's like trying to touch a beam of light!"