STEM: The Cool Blue Light Experiment (Chemiluminescence) GRADES K-5

Glow-in-the-dark objects are fascinating and mysterious. Why do they glow and where does the light come from? It seems like magic when the glow suddenly appears! There is no magic involved though, but a process called chemiluminescence. Chemiluminescent objects use chemical energy to produce light. For example, when you twist or bend a glow stick, you start a chemical reaction. One of the products of the reaction is light. Let's investigate this reaction together to learn how fireflies light up and how a dirty penny can glow!