On July 23, 2025, XFYD Westminster hosted another engaging STEM lesson at Thomas House Family Shelter, where students explored the science of light and color through a hands-on CD suncatcher activity. About 14 students participated in this creative and educational workshop, supported by 9 XFYD and Artify volunteers.
Kicking Things Off
The event began at 1:00 PM with volunteers setting up materials and preparing for the project. Before the students arrived, volunteers demonstrated how to turn old CDs into suncatchers by removing the reflective coating using tape and light scratching. This preparation allowed the students to paint directly onto the transparent surface of the discs.
As the first group of students arrived, they were introduced to the project and encouraged to try peeling the coating off their own CDs. Volunteers guided them through the process and explained how the shiny surfaces created rainbow reflections. These early conversations sparked student curiosity about how light works and how rainbows form.
Understanding the Rainbow
CDs Reflect & Diffract Light
Students learned that CDs are covered in microscopic grooves that bend and scatter light. These grooves act as a diffraction grating, separating white light into its individual colors.
White Light Contains All Colors
Volunteers explained that white light is made up of many colors mixed together. When that light is bent or diffracted, the separate colors become visible.
Diffraction and Rainbows
As the light hit the surface of the CDs, it bent and spread—creating rainbow patterns that changed depending on the angle. This hands-on observation helped students understand the concept of angle-dependent diffraction.
Everyday Science
The project demonstrated that even something as ordinary as an old CD can reveal complex science when viewed through a new lens.
Creative Reflections
Students decorated their prepared CDs using a mix of glass paint, permanent markers, glitter, stickers, and other art supplies. Their designs were colorful, creative, and unique—some even drew characters like Shadow the Hedgehog or designed fruit-themed patterns like watermelons.
The painted CDs were left outside to dry in the sun while the students rotated to other activities. Later, a second group of students joined in to complete their own suncatchers using the remaining materials.
By 3:30 PM, the event wrapped up. Volunteers cleaned the workspace, washed brushes, and packed up supplies. Each student left with a one-of-a-kind CD suncatcher—a project that merged science with creativity and left a lasting impression on everyone involved.
