Describes something that gives out light.

Describes something that does not give out light.

Surfaces that scatter light reflect light in many directions at once.

The hole in the front of the eye that lets light into the eye.

The back surface of the eye that detects light.

How we see things

Science

In the Making images unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn that white light is made of different colours that can be detected by the eye, and how pinhole cameras and lenses form clear images.

In the Light and how it travels (Y6) unit, pupils learnt that light travels in straight lines, which explains why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them, and objects are seen by the light that reflects back into the eye or travels directly into it from a light source.

This unit explores sound and light waves, including frequencies, echoes, reflection, absorption, and the need for a medium for sound to travel. It also compares light and matter waves, investigates light transmission and colour, and examines wave properties and effects.

Sound, light and vision

Which of the following objects are luminous?

Three pupils make statements A, B and C.
A: only white objects reflect.
B: only shiny objects reflect.
C: you can see yourself in any object that reflects.
How many of the statements are correct?

When light of any colour reflects off a smooth object.

When light of any colour reflects off any object.

When white light reflects off a smooth object.

When white light reflects off any object.

Which of the following statements describes when light obeys the laws of reflection?

A hole in the back of the eye that lets light out.

A hole in the front of the eye that lets light in.

The coloured part of the front of the eye.

Which of the following is a definition for the pupil of the eye?

The {{}} is the back surface of the eye that detects light.

Light travels too fast for you to see it.

You can only ever see light after it has reflected.

There is nothing in the air for the light to reflect off.

Light jumps straight from the laser to the wall without travelling between them.

A pupil shines a laser beam onto a wall. They can see a spot of light where the beam hits the wall, but cannot see the beam as it travels to the wall. Which of the following statements explains why?

Which of the following words is the opposite of ‘smooth’?

Which of the following words is the opposite of ‘shiny’?

They point in the direction the light travels.

A very thin beam of light can be made of only one ray.

Which of the following statements about light rays are correct?

The first law of reflection states that the angle of reflection equals …

The second law of reflection states that the incident ray and the reflected ray are …

The third law of reflection states that the two rays and the normal are all …

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

How we see things

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.