Higher:
Can conduct a test which shows how the size of shadow can change depending on distance from the light source
Middle:
Can express using scientific language, how a shadow is formed and can change
Lower:
Able to identify why a shadow is formed because light travels in straight lines
Lesson Starter: What are shadows?
Children to write down at least one idea about what a shadow is on a mini whiteboard or sticky note.
Presentation - Starter Slide.
Mini whiteboard
Sticky Notes
Answer questions and take part in activities during the presentation.
Key Concept:
During this unit, each lesson contains a key concept question housed in the '30 Second Challenge' slide. To help children master this content so the knowledge moves from their short term memory to their long term memory, at the beginning of the follow on lesson the question from the previous lesson is revisited.
The questions covered during this unit include:
1. How are shadows created? Why do shadows change during the day?
2. Why are transparent materials useful?
3. Provide three examples that explain the different uses of lenses.
4. What is white light?
5. Why does water bend light?
6. When is light colour mixing used in industry and how?
Presentation
Expert Film: Danny Hawkins a Facilities Delivery Manager for Network Rail explains how light travels in a straight line.
Expert Film: Mike Linley describes how shadows are formed.
How we deliver the Gatsby Benchmarks:
2 - Learning from career and labour market information: Pop along to Developing Experts career’s zone to find out about jobs in your area.
4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers: This unit showcases careers that relate to light. Access our 360° virtual work tours.
7 - Encounters with Further and Higher Education: Pop along to Developing Experts career’s zone to find out about training providers in your area.
Presentation - Expert Film.
Casting Shadows
This experiment should be in a dark room.
Casting Shadows
Quiz
With their talk partners, the children are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.
Quiz in presentation
Interactive quiz
Can the children predict what happens to a light beam when it is obstructed by an opaque object?
Can the children measure shadows accurately?
Quizzes in pupil zone.
Unit knowledge organiser and test available in unit documents area.
Shadows are formed when...
The shadow can change size when...
A shadow's angle, when cast by the sun, can change when...
The Science Behind the Science
Photons are the fundamental units of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. In scientific diagrams, rays of light can be drawn as straight lines with arrows to show the direction that the light is travelling in.
Light sources are classed as anything that makes light. They can be natural (e.g. stars and lightning) or artificial (e.g. light bulbs and mobile phone screens). Many objects also allow us to see things around us by dispersing or re-distributing the light given off by light sources. Light always travels in straight lines, as evidenced by the fact that shadows take the same shape as the opaque objects that cast them. The light is stopped by the opaque object and it cannot curve around the edges of the object.
Light can change direction through reflection and refraction. During reflection, rays of light rebound after striking a surface. Reflection takes place with mirrors. During refraction, rays of light change direction as they move from one transparent medium to another with a different density. This happens because the speed of light changes as it crosses the boundary between two media. Refraction takes place with lenses.
Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them
Taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate
Grade 6 Light, Shadows and Reflection.
knows that light from the light source or reflected light from the object enters the eye & can make us see the light source or the object knows that when the moving light encounters an object the reflection phenomenon will occur & the direction of light propagation will change knows that light travels in a straight line in the air
