When the physics department at Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium in Berlin was looking for a way to modernize their optics curriculum, they reached out to us.
The challenge
Traditional optics kits feel abstract. Students align components on an optical rail but rarely connect the experiments to real-world imaging. The department wanted something that:
- Covers classical ray optics (lenses, mirrors, prisms)
- Bridges to wave optics (interference, diffraction)
- Ends with a working microscope students assemble themselves
The solution
We provided 15 CoreBox kits — one per student pair — along with a 12-week lesson plan co-developed with the teachers.
Week-by-week highlights
- Weeks 1–3: Geometric optics with the cube rail, thin-lens equation verification
- Weeks 4–6: Wave optics inserts — single slit, double slit, grating experiments
- Weeks 7–9: Building a compound microscope from cubes, understanding magnification
- Weeks 10–12: Digital microscopy with the Raspberry Pi camera module, image analysis
Results
Students reported significantly higher engagement compared to the previous year's traditional lab format. The hands-on assembly aspect was consistently rated as the most motivating part of the course.
We are now working on a standardized curriculum package that other schools can adopt directly. Interested? Get in touch.