How does information get from one place to another so quickly? In the Get Critical! STEM Kit, students will conduct experiments with optical fibers to learn about reflection, refraction, critical angles, and diffraction. They even get a chance to send “text messages” between groups!

Big Concepts include: 1) reflection; 2) refraction; 3) density; 4) critical angles; 5) diffraction; and 6) wavelengths of light.

Scientific Inquiry Skills include: 1) measuring critical angles; 2) data collection and graphing; 3) use of spectroscope; and 4) use of science notebooks.

Get Critical! STEM Kit Tutorials

Get Critical! STEM Kit Resources

CSU Resources

Other Useful Resources

Borrowing Get Critical! STEM Kits

There is no charge to educators who wish to borrow any of our STEM kits. Send the appropriate application form via email to Laura Schoenfeld (laura.schoenfeld@colostate.edu) or fax (970-491-2005). We appreciate applications to be sent 2 weeks in advance to the desired use date.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. – Albert Einstein

A diagram of diffraction in action
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