Generating, collecting, and analyzing data is an essential practice in the science classroom (NRC 2012). Taking this data and using it to craft an explanation that demonstrates understanding of content is another essential practice. But both practices can be challenging, and students often require teacher support to succeed. Accordingly, the authors set out to develop a range of activities that would engage students in these practices more meaningfully. They did it as part of Project NEURON--a program that brings together education and neuroscience faculty and graduate students to create high school science curriculum. One of the activities the authors created--a color-sorting activity--draws on the principles of visual neuroscience and optics to demonstrate the influence of light and environment on perception and behavior. The activity allows students to collect data, use math and computational thinking, construct explanations, and engage in argument from evidence, as described in "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" (NRC 2012). This article describes the color-sorting activity in detail and suggests how teachers can adapt it for their classrooms.