This book is a guide to teaching optics and photonics through inquiry-based investigations that use inexpensive and easily found supplies. It is intended for anyone who is providing informal STEM education or community outreach. The investigations in this book are easy to modify and can also be used in a traditional classroom or in a homeschool setting. They have been used in both large and small venues with students in upper elementary grades through high school as well as all-age community groups. This book is the perfect answer for someone providing outreach for the first time or an experienced instructor looking for more complex investigations. We provide detailed instructions and suggest sources for specified materials. We also provide web links to videos, more detailed explanations, and other resources to help implement these investigations as classroom lessons.