Light and how it travels
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils' prior learning from Introduction to light and shadows, where they explored how light creates shadows and how it is essential for seeing. In Light and how it travels, pupils will deepen their understanding by learning how light moves in straight lines, reflects, and refracts. This prepares them for the next unit, Sound, light and vision, where they will further explore how light and sound work together to allow us to see and hear, reinforcing the concepts of wave properties and sensory perception.
Prior knowledge requirements
- 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
- Recognise that light from the Sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
- Recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object
- Find patterns in the way that the size of shadows change
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils' prior learning from Introduction to light and shadows, where they explored how light creates shadows and how it is essential for seeing. In Light and how it travels, pupils will deepen their understanding by learning how light moves in straight lines, reflects, and refracts. This prepares them for the next unit, Sound, light and vision, where they will further explore how light and sound work together to allow us to see and hear, reinforcing the concepts of wave properties and sensory perception.
Prior knowledge requirements
- 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
- Recognise that light from the Sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes
- Recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object
- Find patterns in the way that the size of shadows change
Chemistry
Physics
Light and how it travels
This unit explores how light travels in straight lines, explaining how we see objects and why shadows form the shape of the object casting them. It focuses on planning scientific enquiries, taking precise measurements, making predictions, and evaluating evidence to present findings.
11 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Light and how it travels unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our primary science curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for primary science programmes.