Each group needs:

• 3–5 clear plastic cups or mini containers (240 mL each / 8 oz)
• 3-5 pieces of cardboard
• 3–5 wide-mouthed clear plastic straws
• 60 mL (¼ cup) of cornstarch
• 60 mL (¼ cup) of granulated sugar
• 2–3 drops of red food coloring
• 2–3 disposable 3 mL plastic droppers or disposable plastic pipettes
• 1 small sheet of aluminum foil (approx. 20 cm × 20 cm or 8 in × 8 in)
• 2 index cards or pieces of stiff white cardstock (approx. 7.6 cm × 12.7 cm or 3 in × 5 in)
• 50 cm (20 in) of tape (masking or clear)
• 1 small flashlight
• Imagine: Brainstorm Solutions Worksheet (1 per student)
• Plan: Develop a Prototype Worksheet (1 per group)
• Test and Improve Worksheet (1 per student)
• Post Activity Reflection Worksheet (1 per student)
• (optional) Vocabulary List (1 per group or student)

For the entire class to share:

• 5-10 pulse oximeters
• black construction paper or fabric scraps (at least 2 sheets)
• rulers, scissors, glue sticks
• 1 large mixing bowl and spoon (for teacher prep and/or student setup station)
• sticky notes (3-4 per student)
• writing utensils (one per student)
• 3-4 solutions of varying opacity for testing (this is the teacher’s discretion)

For the teacher:

• (optional) access to NearPod (https://nearpod.com)
• 1 laptop or computer with internet access and a projector (to show YouTube videos and display the Exploring Light & Health Presentation
• 1 small flashlight
• 1 clear plastic cup with colored water (create a colored water mixture through which light can pass)
• 1 clear plastic cup with a mixture of cornstarch, sugar, and water (create a mixture cloudy enough that less or no light can pass)

YouTube Links and Run Times:

Links and Run Times Sheet

• “How Your Heart Works” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg_ObDJEaGo, 4:03 minutes)
• “What is a Heart?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIPV1n2A9LI, 2:49 minutes)
• “What is Bioengineering?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtUefo9Taus, 2:36 minutes)
• “How pulse oximeters work, and why they sometimes do not” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0RISnX-cnc, 2:14 minutes)