Introduction: Light and Colour

By plus.google.com/1028627043133326
About: I've long been an amateur programmer, models maker, and a lover of art, science and technologies.

This is part of my STEAM summer course for kids from Primary 3 to 6. The main objectives are arousing curiosity, training in observation, aesthetics, creativity and hands-on experience. The lesson starts by challenging the belief and daily experience of kids by asking "why is a red apple red?" Most kids may answer saying somethings like "it is red because it is red in colour." I'll ask further: "why is stuff in red looks red?" Some of the sixth graders may already heard of the idea that red apple or red pigment absorb all other colours of light except the red one. This is the basic concept I'm going to share with them. But don't stop there. Even if all of them buy in this concept, challenge them how they know it is true. "Question everything!" Even for things printed in the textbook or taught by their teacher. This is perhaps one of the most important spirits that educator has to cultivate.

Attachments

Supplies

Bill of Materials (Details in the )

  1. 1mm Thick Clear Plastic Sheets
  2. 3 X 1.5V AA Battery Case
  3. 3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener 250 Clear, 1 in x 6 Ft
  4. 5V 10A Power Supply Adapter
  5. Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors (2 ounce)
  6. Arduino UNO R3 Board
  7. Cellophane Wraps
  8. Clear Document Folder
  9. Color Paddles
  10. Copper Foil Tape with Double-Sided Conductive
  11. Full Color LED Pixel Strip
  12. LEGO Axle 3 with Stud (6587 / 13670)
  13. LEGO Gear with 24 Teeth
  14. Non-Toxic Conductive Ink Pen
  15. Right Angle Prism
  16. Self-Adhesive Sparkle Paper
  17. Super Glue
  18. Translucent Tracing Paper
  19. White Core Foam Core Backing Board

Step 1: Red Apple Not Red Box

While kids are pondering and scratching their heads, it will be a prime show time of NANR Box. The box houses three LEDs each with distinct wavelength in red, green and blue. The kids should be encouraged to try it out with different objects and observe their colours in each LED light.

Besides proving it is the light that matters, it will also be a good moment to introduce them the primary colours of light and the white light effect when three LEDs are on at the same time. In order to internalize their newly acquired knowledge, it is important to ask them to make the same kind of box for showing to others. Not only will they gain additional knowledge of simple circuit and hands-on experience of building their own experiment, but also they will better solidify the new concepts.

Step 2: Building Your Own RANR Box

  1. Reuse any paper boxes with a flap opening. Choose one that's big enough to hold an apple with the flap closed.
  2. Cut holes on the cover to just fit the aluminum base of the LEDs.
  3. Drill a small hole (big enough for a Lego cross axle to go through) about 5 cm away from the middle LED base.
  4. Place the LED bulbs inside the box so that their anode wires go outside and the cathode wires stay inside.
  5. Connect the cathode wires with a copper foil tape using both super glue and conductive silver ink pen.
  6. Paint the outside of the paper box. (Make it looks cyber so that kids will love to have one.) I suggest to use acrylic paint so that kids can paint it by themselves. I wrap part of the box with self-adhesive sparkle paper.
  7. Stick three thin strips of copper foil (pointing to the centre of the axle hole) on the surface of the box. Make them in any shape so long as the copper connection on the dial can switch on each LED individually.
  8. Connect the anode wires to the copper foil with super glue and conductive silver ink pen.
  9. Cut a piece of round PVC sheet in about 3.5 cm diameter. [better prepared it by an adult]
  10. Connect the Lego axle with a gear (any matching type salvaged from old Lego toys will do) and the round PVC sheet. It will become a dial for switching on the LEDs.
  11. Stick a thin strip of copper foil tape (for switching on just one LED) and a segment of copper foil (big enough to switch on 3 LEDs at the same time) on the PVC sheet. The size of the copper foils should match those with the anode copper strips on the surface of the box.
  12. Solder two wires on the copper foil. [better prepared it by an adult] Glue the wires along the groove of the axle.
  13. Push the Lego axle with the wires through the hole on the box. Peel part of the wires for connection. Then wrap two rounds of copper foil. The copper foil is meant for both conducting electricity and a washer/stopper that fixes the position of the axle through the hole.
  14. Connect both the anode and cathode wire through a hole at the back of the box to a battery box outside.
  15. Cut a window at the front part of the box and glue a PVC sheet from inside. In order to diffuse the light, stick a piece of white paper inside the box.

Step 3: Primary Colours of Light

Now the kids know the red, green and blue are the primary colours of light. It's time to observe how magical effects of these light can be created. Inspired by the Illuminature book [Illuminature: Discover 180 Animals with your Magic Three Color Lens (See 3 images in 1) Hardcover – Illustrated, October 4, 2016 by Rachel Williams (Author), Carnovsky (Illustrator)], we can help kids to explore their imagination and creativity by using acrylic paint, sticking coloured tracing papers or cellophane wraps on transparent PVC sheet. In addition, we can download and print silhouettes for them to trace and use.

Step 4: Making Kids' Creativity Seen - LED Drawing Frame

After you kids complete their drawings, it's our job to maximize their satisfaction. Teenagers may also involved in the building of this RGB full-colour drawing frame. You are free to choose from old paper boxes with flap opening or photo frames for modification. In order to create mesmerizing effect, we use an Arduino UNO to drive an individually-addressable RGB LED strip for the light pattern we want. You are free to cut across any point on the copper contact points to make the strip fit in your frame. For example, the red dotted line in my photo can be the starting point of a strips of 52 LED bulbs for my wooden drawing frame. Please notice that the power (5v) can be applied to any anode and cathode copper contact points on the strip, but the digital control pin should be the one before the first LED bulb (the starting position in my photo). For detailed technical data, please refer to tweaking4all.com.

The steps for building it are similar using paper box and photo frame.

  1. Choose a box or frame with at least the thickness of the LED strip (at least 1 cm height).
  2. If you use a paper box, cut a window on the cover and glue a transparent PVC sheet at its back.
  3. If you use a photo frame, build a foam box that can be fit at the back of the frame.
  4. Glue a plastic document folder on the PVC sheet as a holder of the drawing.
  5. Stick the LED strip around the inner walls of the frame or box.
  6. Drill a hole at the back of the box or the foam box of the frame for cables to the Arduino and battery, etc. (It will be more convenient if you can use 5V AC/DC adaptor as power supply.

It will be a great device for kids to observe the combination of different light and colours on their painting to create the effect of an object fading in and out; such as an animal appears behind a brush, or Bruce Banner transforms into the Hulk, etc. They can then amend their drawings and the LED control program for a more engaging effect. Please explore and enjoy!