TV on a Rolling Cart

Glow Sticks

From Design Squad Global

Glow Sticks
2 min3rd4th5th6thScience
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Summary

A bite-size Design Squad explainer: find out what makes a glow stick light up without any electricity. In a couple of minutes it makes clear how a chemical reaction makes light (chemiluminescence).

Viewer safety

All ages
Common Sense Media — not yet ratedIMDb Parents Guide — not yet rated

Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.

Teaching resources

Discussion questions

Quick questions to check understanding:

  1. In your own words, explain how a chemical reaction makes light (chemiluminescence).
  2. Where have you seen this idea show up in real life?
  3. How could an engineer use this idea when they design something?

Quick work-a-long

Words to know: glow sticks, plus one new word you heard.

Try it:

  1. Explain the main idea to a partner in one sentence.
  2. Find one example of it around you and draw or describe it.