Welcome to Lightlabetc!
The nature of light fascinated me since High school when I learned how lenses form images, and the role of total internal reflection in fiber optics technology. In college, I studied Physics with a focus on Optics marveling in its life-giving applications. I worked in research for eight years, until devoting myself to full-time motherhood and homeschooling.
Since, I have been teaching Part-Time and volunteering in children’s ministry: Sunday School, CEF, AWANA, and VBS. During that time, a desire grew in me to glorify God with my knowledge about the nature of light. A quick search in the Bible revealed over 200 references to light inspiring me to teach children about the nature of light, with the hope that they might also:
Marvel in the nature of light and acknowledge its goodness just like our Creator (Genesis 1:4)
Delight in Jesus who reflects God’s light, and redeems us back to Him (John 8:12)
Rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance to shine God’s light to others (Acts 1:8)
By 2013, I had written twelve lessons for elementary students filled with hands-on activities and Bible lessons about light. I compiled them in the book Lightlab to make it accessible to anyone who is as passionate as I am about teaching Science while passing down the Christian faith. Since Lightlab’s publication in 2017, it has been used by co-ops, summer camps, churches and homeschool conferences.
In all that I do, I seek to offer hope to the next generation, preparing them intellectually and spiritually. I pray that they grow knowledgeable of all things (Daniel 1:4), aware of God’s love for them (John 3:16), and willing to follow His ways (Psalm 19).
In awe of our Creator and Redeemer,
Suzanne Ourfalian Shera, M.S.
Listen below to an interview with Step into the Light Radio Show #256.
I discuss my journey from an agnostic scientist to an enthusiastic Christian.
Contact Me anytime about the content of the book, speaking engagements and other educational services on various topics for youth and adults.
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The Scientific Method (1 hr): for teachers and students
Meet Michael Faraday and James Maxwell for Middle school students-Adults
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Select Topics from LightLab (1 - 2 hrs. per topic) for Upper Elementary levels
Color Theory The Full Story (2 hrs.) for Middle School/High School
Make Your Own Sundial (3 hrs.) for Middle School /High School
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CLIMATE CHANGE: ALL VIEWPOINTS
Students will look at the history of Climate Change and the research methods to make predictions about global warming. They will cover science topics such as air pressure, characteristics of heat, the atmospheres of the Earth and the sun. They will also learn about the influence of the changing Sun on Earth, as far as it is understood by scientists. They will examine the arguments by opposing scientific communities on the extent of human contribution towards the observed global warming. Students will be asked to draw their own conclusions, and will have access to many more resources for the future. Students will be advised to become good stewards of our Earth, and marvel how God created it with such unique characteristics in order for life to exist.
LIGHT & OPTICS
Students will appreciate the benefit of shadows in the world, and how they help with time-telling. They will understand the laws of reflection and refraction, and learn how Fiber Optics propagate light waves for long distances. They will experiment with a variety of mirrors and lenses and differentiate between real and virtual images. They will explore cameras and various telescopes, and have the option of building simple ones. They will also spend time on Color Theory and delve into 3D Stereo Vision. Students with advanced mathematics will solve real-life problems with formulas.
ASTRONOMY AND THE HEAVENS DECLARE
This course begins with the history of Astronomy and how to identify many constellations discovered long ago. Students will learn how stars were used as clocks and how scientists calculate their distances from earth. They will use Newtonian Physics to understand the mechanics of the solar system. They will explore our closest star - the sun- and its radiation. They will answer questions such as “why is the sky blue and the horizon red?” At the conclusion of the course, they will explore sky observation systems, such as telescopes and build their own. All the while, we will refer to biblical passages about creation and examine arguments presented by a few worldviews on the origin and age of the Universe.
INVISIBLE LIGHT
This course will educate students about the invisible radiations all around them in two parts. In Part One, they will gain a basic understanding of the background science such as: Bohr’s model of the atom, how electrons release energy as they change energy levels, electomagnetism, the anatomy of waves - period, and wavelength - and the relationship between energy and frequency. In Part Two, they will explore the Who, When and How of each EM wave - Radio Waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible, UV rays, X rays, Gamma rays- . Students will be informed of the variety of applications of these radiations, and they will perform fun experiments with the safe radiations.
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The Light Module The Leader’s Guide and Outpost Adventures on Light are new publications for Christian Service Brigades. They include more activities on light and stories about Maxwell and Faraday.