Exploring Optical Illusions!
~Grade 3~
illusionbox
www.opticsforkids.org
Introduction!
You rely on optics everyday! Optics is the study of light and describes how light behaves and interacts with objects.  Light is used in technologies to power your digital camera, computer mouse, and even your favorite movie! Today we will be focusing on one branch of optics. Have you ever seen an optical illusion? If not, you are in for an eye-popping treat! What we see does not just depend on our eyes. It also depends on how our brains interpret the images our eyes pick up. What we see is actually our brain’s translation of what it thinks is most likely to be there. Take a look at each illusion and make some observations.  You will be voyaging through information to determine how and why your eyes see crazy images and designs. Make observations and even take some notes, it may be a wild ride! You will have a chance to explore the web in search of  your own illusions and why we see the things we do. Enjoy your journey!
          
Click on the pictures to learn more about each optical illusion!
twinkling dots
www.colorcube.com

What do you see? Why do the dots appear to be blinking?
triangles
www.colorcube.com

Can you see how the triangles are formed?
spinning wheels
www.kids.niehs.nih.gov

Is this picture actually moving?
wavey circles
www.dailyillusions.com

How many circles do you see? Are the lines wavy or do they just appear to be moving?
Challenge!
Now it is your turn to find some optical illusions and determine why our eyes play tricks on us! Use the following websites to locate a new illusion that we did not see on this page.  Find out why the optical illusion is interesting and attempt to recreate it on your own.  Is it difficult to draw an illusion? Try to create your own based on your new knowledge about the science of optics! Use the information you locate to answer the questons below and GOOD LUCK!

  1. What causes us to see optical illusions? Is it more our brain or our eyes?
  2. Why is a computer screen considered an optical illusion?
  3. What did Aristotle say about illusions in 350 B.C.?
  4. Explain the Mueller-Lyer illusion. Why is it interesting?
  5. Was it difficult creating your own illusion or even just drawing one you found online?
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Use these websites to research awesome OPTIC TOPICS!
OR.....use these keywords on www.kidsclick.org or  www.kids.yahoo.com!
  • Optical Illusions
  • The Human Eye
  • Optics and Light
Grade Level Expectations:
  • Science: Inquiry: S3-4:2: Students demonstrate their understanding by identifying simple patterns of evidence used to develop a prediction and propose an explanation.
  • Arts: Visual Arts Skill Development: A3-4:10: Students show art development when creating art by demonstrating techniques and processes in 2D work.