Eyeing Spring Science Fairs
Science fairs are a great way for young students to research a topic of interest and gain valuable knowledge through hands-on experience and experiments. To help students brainstorm, research, and perform fun scientific experiments this spring, the Museum of Vision, a public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Foundation, is providing free curriculum guides on a variety of topics.
The Museum of Vision provides educational materials for physicians, teachers, and parents interested in teaching children about the eye and the fascinating science of vision. One of their popular guides, Art and Vision: Seeing in 3D, explores the concepts of vision and special visual techniques that help to create the illusion of depth. It teaches how the brain processes images like optical illusions and 3D and includes sections on size scaling, overlapping, atmospheric perspective, and linear perspective. The first chapter teaches children about the eye's anatomy and how the human visual system works. This guide also includes fun, interactive classroom activities and handouts. It is most suitable for children ages 11 and up, and is offered free of charge.
Also offered are guides that focus on the differences between human and animal vision, and the importance of keeping eyes healthy. These are filled with discussion points and activities to keep children's interest and build knowledge. Each of these guides can also be downloaded for free on the museum's website.