New
New
Year 6

Light enters our eyes

I can explain that we see things when light travels into the eye.

New
New
Year 6

Light enters our eyes

I can explain that we see things when light travels into the eye.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We need light to see things.
  2. We see things when light enters the eye.
  3. The pupil of the eye is an opening that allows light to enter the eye.
  4. Scientific diagrams and models can be used to show how light travels in straight lines and enters the eye.

Keywords

  • Light - We can detect light with our eyes in order to see things.

  • Enter - To enter means to go inside.

  • Pupil - The pupil of the eye is an opening that allows light to enter the eye.

  • Model - A model is used to describe something that can't be experienced directly.

  • Diagram - A diagram is a simplified drawing of information.

Common misconception

Our eyes produce light which allows us to see.

Children will be taught that we see when light enters our eyes and will model and draw this themselves.

Help children understand the idea of light entering our eyes to allow us to see by exploring how their own pupils change in response to bright and dim light.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A ball of string and access to a light source.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the part of the body to the sense with which it is associated.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:nose,smell

smell

Correct Answer:skin,touch

touch

Correct Answer:eye,sight

sight

Correct Answer:ear,hearing

hearing

Correct Answer:tongue,taste

taste

Q2.
Match the phrase to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:light source ,an object which produces its own light

an object which produces its own light

Correct Answer:light reflector ,an object which does not produce its own light

an object which does not produce its own light

Q3.
How could you test objects to observe if they are light sources or light reflectors?
An image in a quiz
see how shiny they are
Correct answer: take them into a dark room
shake them
shine a torch on them
Q4.
Which item is in the wrong column of this table of results?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: candle
star
mobile phone
torch
TV
Q5.
is the absence of light.
Correct Answer: darkness, dark, Darkness, Dark
Q6.
When light travels from a light source, in which direction does it travel?
towards the light source
up and down
Correct answer: in all directions

6 Questions

Q1.
We use our eyes to see and we need to see.
Correct Answer: light
Q2.
We see things when light ________ the eye.
An image in a quiz
leaves
Correct answer: enters
bounces off
Q3.
What do scientists often use to represent their ideas, in order to help people understand the world?
paintings
Correct answer: models
drama
Correct answer: diagrams
Q4.
What is the name of the opening in the eye that allows light to enter?
student
iris
Correct answer: pupil
black hole
Q5.
Which of the following scientific models is correct?
1
Correct answer: 2
3
Q6.
Which of the following scientific diagrams is correct?
Correct answer: 1
2
3

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.