Teacher Resources
The Physics Classroom has been devoted to helping students, teachers, and classrooms since the 1990s. We are as passionate about that mission now as we have ever been. If you are a teacher of Physics or Physical Science, we encourage you to use our Video Tutorial with your students. And we also encourage you to consider the use of other resources on our website that coordinate with the video. We have listed a few below to help you get started.
Curriculum Corner, Reflection and Mirrors
Our Curriculum Corner includes in excess of 200 Think Sheets on discrete topics. Each Think Sheet takes a developmental approach to a topic. The one on
Ray Diagrams would make a great in-class follow up for this video. Blend it with a MOP mission or a Concept Builder or our simulation (below) and you will have a great lesson.
Physics Interactives: Who Can See Who? Simulation
There are five students sitting in front of the mirror. Who can each student see? This interactive exercise provides students immediate feedback and guidance. It's a "no-fail" activity and makes a great preface to the Concept Builder by the same name that is described below.
Concept Builder: Who Can See Who?
Students love Concept Builders. They provide a large bank of questions of varying difficulty, an intelligent question-delivery system, and immediate feedback on student answers. They can be used in class or (with our Task Tracker system) out of class as quick formative assessments. Try this one to assess student understanding of ray diagram applications.
Minds On Physics, Reflection and Mirrors Module, Mission RM3
Minds On Physics has always been a tool that trains students to read closely, think deeply, and reason conceptually. This mission on Plane Mirror Ray Tracing will do all that and more. Give it a try.
Tutorial on Reflection and the Ray Model of Light, Lesson 2
When you need to quickly review a topic and/or freshen up on a concept, The Tutorial section of our website is your go-to place. Many teachers include these as links for students on their course management sites. This page is the written version of our video tutorial.
Ray Diagrams for Plane Mirrors
Teacher Toolkits: Plane Mirrors
We love our Teacher Toolkits. We hope you do as well. They include a collection of links to vetted resources throughout the web that are standards-based and multi-media driven.