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Light
Pupils should be taught to:
• recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light;
• notice that light reflects from surfaces;
• recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes;
• recognise that shadows are formed when light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object;
• find patterns in the way that the size of shadows change.
Y3 Light; Forming Shadows
Resource Details
A PowerPoint presentation used to introduce the scientific understanding and theories surrounding light and shadows. The PowerPoint can be used at the beginning of the topic or during it to stimulate scientific discussions, ideas and theories.
View ResourceY3 Making and Reading a Sundial
Resource Details
Pupils learn that in the past sundials were used to help people tell the time of day and that because the Earth spins the Sun appears to move across the sky, the changing shadows produced by the Sun can be used to tell the time. Pupils then build and teat their own sundials.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - find patterns that determine the size of shadows; recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
- NaG - pupils should look for patterns in what happens to shadows when the light source moves or the distance between the light source and the object changes
- WS - pupils should using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; gather, record, classify and present data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions; make systematic and careful observations using results to draw simple conclusions
Y3 Making and Investigating Shadows
Resource Details
Pupils investigate how shadows are made. They use a flashlight and explore the shadows made of a screen by a number of different objects. They record their results in a table by predicting and drawing shadows.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - find patterns that determine the size of shadows
- NaG - pupils should look for patterns in what happens to shadows when the light source moves or the distance between the light source and the object changes; they should be warned that it is not safe to look directly at the Sun, even when wearing dark glasses
- WS - pupils should use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; gather, record, classify and present data in a variety of ways to help answer questions; make systematic and careful observations; use results to draw simple conclusions
Y3 Light and Shadows – My Early Thoughts
Resource Details
Pupils have to answer a series of light related questions which will help access their early understanding of light and shadows, light sources, reflected light and how we see. This activity can be done in discussion pairs or groups.
View ResourceLearning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces
Y3 Investigating Shadows
Resource Details
Pupils investigate the length of shadows during the course of a sunny day. They measure and collect results and place these results into a graph before drawing any conclusions.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by a solid object; recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
- NaG – pupils should look for, and measure, shadows, and find out how they are formed and what might cause the shadows to change
- WS - using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions; making systematic and careful observations; using results to draw simple conclusions
Y3 Forming Shadows
Resource Details
Pupils look at a selection of items and predict what type of shadow they think each would make if a bright flashlight were shone in front of them - would an opaque or translucent shadow be produced, or is the object transparent, therefore no shadow would be evident?
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by a solid object; recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
- NaG – pupils should look for, and measure, shadows, and find out how they are formed and what might cause the shadows to change
- WS - using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions; making systematic and careful observations; using results to draw simple conclusions
Y3 Light and Shadows
Resource Details
Pupils investigate the importance of our sense of sight when carrying out everyday tasks. They also learn the importance of light sources and reflected light to our sense of sight. They also learn how difficult it would be to complete simple everyday tasks if our sense of sight was impaired.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces
- NaG - pupils should explore what happens when light reflects off a mirror or other reflective surfaces
- WS - setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests; reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
Y3 Seeing in the Dark
Resource Details
Pupils investigate the difficulties of seeing things in the dark and how a light source helps overcome this problem. They learn that an object in a dark place can only be seen clearly when light from a light source is reflected of an object and then enters the eye.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light; notice that light is reflected from surfaces
- NaG - pupils should explore what happens when light reflects off a mirror or other reflective surfaces
- WS - pupils should set up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests; report on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
Y3 Light Source or Reflection?
Resource Details
Pupils learn that a light source is something that produces (makes) light. The Sun is the biggest and best known light source. Things that we can see that do not produce light are reflectors. Reflectors reflect light! Pupils separate light sources from light reflectors ( a cut and paste activity).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces
- WS - pupils should use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; make systematic and careful observations
Y3 Different Sources of Light
Resource Details
Pupils learn that a light source is something that produces light and that light sources enter our eyes and allow us to see them. They also learn that light also reflects (bounces) off objects that do not produce their own light. This reflected light helps us to see these objects. Pupils sort a number of items and objects in two groups, 'Light sources' and Light reflectors'.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces; recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
- WS - use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; making systematic and careful observations
Y3 Blocking Light and Making a Shadow
Resource Details
Children test different materials to find out how shadows are formed.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by a solid object
- NaG – pupils should look for, and measure, shadows, and find out how they are formed and what might cause the shadows to change
- WS - using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings looking for patterns in what happens to shadows when the light source moves or the distance between the light source and the object changes
Y3 Different Light Sources
Resource Details
Pupils sort pictures of light sources in order of brightness; they then sort the pictures into groups depending upon whether they are manufactured (need electricity to make them) or natural (do not need electricity to make them work).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces; recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
- WS - use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; making systematic and careful observations
Y3 Light Sources
Resource Details
Children sort pictures into two groups: light sources and objects which reflect light.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces; recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
- WS - use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; making systematic and careful observations
Y3 Shiny Objects and Light Sources
Resource Details
Children learn to distinguish between lights sources and objects which reflect light (a cut and paste activity).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light; notice that light is reflected from surfaces
- NaG - pupils should explore what happens when light reflects off a mirror or other reflective surfaces
- WS - use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; making systematic and careful observations
Y3 Sources of Light
Resource Details
Pupils learn that a light source is something that produces (makes) light. The Sun is the biggest, brightest and best known light source. Pupils complete a sorting activity where they sort images of light sources from images of objects that reflect light. Once pupils have identified the light sources they have to try and place these in order from brightest light source to dullest. Pupils have to explain their groupings and light source orders.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - notice that light is reflected from surfaces; recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
- WS - use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; making systematic and careful observations
Y3 The Sun
Resource Details
Children discuss what they know about the Sun and make a 'Sun Fact' display; they learn about the dangers of looking directly at the Sun.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
- WS - use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings; making systematic and careful observations