make your own red reveal hidden messages

The electromagnetic radiation spectrum, pictured below, is a representation of all wavelengths of light (or radiation) that arrive on earth from the sun.

To use filter goggles all a student must do is where the filter goggles (as close to their eyes as possible) and then shine the flashlight on the secret message poster board(s)īackground Science Learning Question: What portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is visible light? What are the optics behind prisms and more simple colour filters?.

To use a mounted filter all a student must do is hold the mounted filter in front of the flashlight (so that all light coming from the flashlight passes through the filter) and then point the flashlight at the secret message poster board(s).

With help from volunteers (to avoid stumbling or injuries) students will go around to the various poster boards and experiment with their 5 coloured cellophane filters until discovering red reveals the secret message(s).

EVENT DAY: students will be given a flashlight and a kit of 5 differently coloured cellophane filters.

Make multiple secret message poster boards, with different secret messages (and possibly different levels of difficulty) to post on the wall around a darkened room.

The red cellophane filter will let red/pink/orange/yellow colours through, these colours will seem to disappear behind the red cellophane filter (so the poster board should have distractor letters/lines drawn in these colours, jumbling up the secret message to the naked eye).The red cellophane filter will not let purple/blue/green/brown through, these colours will appear dark behind the red cellophane filter (so the secret message should be written, creatively hidden, in these colours).Using a white piece of poster board, write your secret message and the additional distraction letters/lines in different colours of crayon, according to the instructions below.Prepare you secret message poster board before your event (steps 8-11).Students will experiment with all 5 coloured filters, but red will be the one that reveals the secret message (you may make another colour be the one that works, you will just need to draw your secret message correctly, using the information provided below).Put together multiple kits or packages of all 5 coloured filters.Alternatively you may make cellophane “goggles” by mounting two cellophane pieces onto makeshift cardstock glasses.Mount these circular cut-outs on a border or frame of firmer cardstock, something that will hold the cellophane flat and give the students something to hold onto.Cut out circular pieces (big enough to cover the front of the flashlight) of all 5 colours of cellophane, make multiple of each colour.Prepare your cellophane filters before your event (steps 2-6).

Poster board (must be white, having multiple is a good idea).Cardstock (or firmer construction paper, to mount the cellophane on).

Cellophane (yellow, blue, red, purple, and orange).**Garbage bags, paper towels/surface cleaner (or other safe disposal method).Flashlights (every student will need one).Explore the visible light spectrum and simple colour filtration as you decode a secret message with some coloured cellophane “science goggles”! Volunteers: 2-4ġ: to discuss the procedure/background science.ġ-3: to hands-on assist with the procedure.

Make your own red reveal hidden messages