An experimental‐optical approach to the teaching of conic sections is presented. This approach has been used successfully for a considerable time with high school pupils and with students taking degree courses in the teaching of mathematics and physics. Mirrors in the form of parabola, ellipse, circle and hyperbola are used to show paths of incident and reflected light. These paths demonstrate the optical characteristics of the mirror curves and some geometrical characteristics of the conic sections. Finally, for completeness as a teaching tool, the string and pencil methods of drawing the conic sections are noted.