August 10, 2010 > Free vision curriculum guides available
Free vision curriculum guides available
Submitted By Natalie Wolfrom
In today's economy, educational tools are expensive for both students and educators. School textbook prices have risen alarmingly in recent years; depending on the subject, a single elementary textbook can range in price from $30 to $100.
For 30 years, the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Museum of Vision has provided educational materials for physicians, teachers, and parents interested in teaching children about the eye, vision, and ophthalmology. The museum has created an entire curriculum to teach children about the fascinating and spectacular science of vision. The museum's materials are suitable for ages 10-14, but can be adapted for other age groups.
The free teacher workbooks created by the museum focus on the human eye, the differences between human and animal vision, perspective, and how the brain processes images like optical illusions and 3D. The guides are filled with discussion points and fun interactive activities. Each guide can be downloaded at www.museumofvision.org/education and is free of charge:
Eye Openers: Exploring Optical Illusions is designed to help educators teach basic concepts of vision including binocular vision, persistence of vision, and eye-brain connection. It includes activities for youngsters and provides appropriate handouts.
Animal Eyes(r) describes the basic concepts of vision and explores the amazing eyes of the animal kingdom. The booklet teaches about the human visual system, how human eyes differ from animal eyes, seeing in the dark, and color vision.
Art and Vision: Seeing in 3D(r) describes the concepts of vision and special visual techniques that help to create the illusion of depth. It includes sections on size scaling, overlapping, atmospheric perspective, and linear perspective.
"I am very appreciative of the [educational] materials. I know that they would be very helpful for me in teaching my students about the eye and its wonders," said Scott A. Blanchard, teacher at the Biscotti Educational Center, in Macomb, Michigan.
Those interested in getting the curriculum guides can download the free PDF version online by visiting www.museumofvision.org/education. Once there, click on the link "Read More" found under any of the three booklets. A new page will open with the appropriate booklet information. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find a free downloadable version of the booklet.
The Museum of Vision is an educational program of The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It is the only institution in the United States whose sole purpose is to preserve the history of ophthalmology and celebrate its unique contributions to science and health. For more information on the Museum of Vision, visit www.museumofvision.org.