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Science topics ages 10 - 11
How we see things
Curriculum relevance |
Online lesson plan
Offline lesson plan |
Worksheet |
Activity |
Quiz
Online lesson plan
Objectives
Understand that mirrors reflect light
Learn that when a beam of light is reflected from a surface, its direction
changes
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National Curriculum
England: Key Stage 2, Sc1 2g; Sc4 3a, 3c
Wales: Key Stage 2, Physical processes, 3.1, 3.4
Northern Ireland: Key Stage 2, Physical processes, Light, c
Scotland: 5-14 Guidelines, Science, Properties and uses of energy, Level C
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Resources required
Online activity from Science Clips website: How we see things
Copies of the How we see things worksheet printed from the Science Clips
website
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Teaching activities
Introduction
Ask the children to name different light sources. Record these on display. If
they suggest objects that reflect light, display these in a separate list. Why
have I put your suggestions into two groups? Ensure they understand the
difference between a light source that emits its own light, and an object that
reflects light from a light source. How can we see objects that do not emit
light? Lead children to point out that most surfaces reflect light that shines
on them, and this reflected light enters our eyes. To illustrate this, draw a
diagram of a light source, a mirror and an eye on the board. Use this diagram
to show that flat mirrors reflect a true likeness of objects. This is because
light falling on a mirror at a certain angle (the angle of incidence) will be
reflected at an equal angle (the angle of reflection).
Activities
Tell the children that they are going to complete an activity to investigate
how flat mirrors reflect light from a light source. Open the online activity on
an interactive whiteboard. Explain how to select an angled mirror and place it
on the screen in the path of the light. How does the light change direction
when it hits the mirror? Explain they must drag mirrors onto the screen to
illuminate each of the objects around the edge of the activity area.
Divide children into groups with a computer for each group. Ask each group to
work through the activity, following the tasks written (and read aloud) at the
top of the screen.
Plenary
Draw an example on the board of the set-up of mirrors needed in the online
activity to illuminate the tent. Annotate on it the angles of incidence and the
angles of reflection. Ask the children to draw how a mirror reflects light into
an eye. Ensure they label the light source, mirror, eye, angle of incidence,
and angle of reflection.
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Extension
Children could try the quiz on the online activity. Or hand out copies of the
worksheet and ask children to draw in the path of the light in each
example.
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Suggested homework
Make a list of objects in the home that are light sources and a list of
objects that reflect light. What properties of materials reflect light best
(shiny, smooth)?
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