Create rainbows using sunlight and water, connecting to the beautiful Caribbean rainbows that appear after tropical rain showers.
The Caribbean is famous for its beautiful rainbows that appear after tropical rain showers! With our abundant sunshine and frequent brief rains, we often see stunning rainbows arching over the sea and mountains. In this activity, students create their own mini rainbows and discover the science behind this magical phenomenon.
Caribbean Colors - Water Prism is a magical activity where students create rainbows using simple materials: a glass of water and sunlight. Students discover that white sunlight is actually made up of many colors, and when light passes through water, it separates into the colors of the rainbow. This connects beautifully to the Caribbean experience of seeing rainbows after tropical rains.
Waves, Light & Sound: Light and Color
The colors of the rainbow always appear in the same order. Use this fun phrase to remember:
"Roy G. Biv"
or
"Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain"
On a sunny day, spray water from a hose with the sun behind you. A rainbow appears in the mist!
Hold an old CD in sunlight - the surface acts like a prism and shows rainbow colors!
Blow soap bubbles in sunlight. The thin soap film creates rainbow swirls!
Create rainbow artwork using paints, crayons, or colored paper - always in Roy G. Biv order!
"How many colors are in a rainbow?"
"Where do the colors come from if sunlight looks white?"
"Why do we see rainbows after rain?"
"Are the colors in a rainbow always in the same order?"
"Have you ever seen a double rainbow?"
