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Seeing needs light

EnglishYear 3ScienceFree

Sort light evidence, distinguish sources from reflectors and explain darkness.

What it is about

Distinguish sources from reflectors and explain darkness.

Year 3 · 7–8 years · 30 challenges

Before you begin

  • KS1 habitats, plant needs, healthy choices and material tests.

What the class will do

  1. Sort into groups · 8 challenges

    Classify the light evidence

    Use the record on each card. Agree the role before a representative chooses a group.

  2. Choose and explain · 22 challenges

    Explain what we can see

    Think, discuss with a partner and choose the explanation supported by the light evidence.

Using it in class

Full bank: 30–40 minutes; choose 5 challenges or an independent block for a short round. Everyone predicts before a rotating representative acts. Cards contain the needed evidence; pictures do not prove light emission. Never look directly at the Sun.

Give everyone time to think and discuss before one pupil acts at the board. The class explains and confirms together; hints and explanations stay until you move on.

Use an up-to-date browser on a computer connected to a whiteboard or shared display. Touch, mouse and keyboard; optional audio and reduced motion. No pupil accounts or personal devices.

Choose from 5 challenges up to the full activity. Discussion determines the duration: you set the pace.

A look inside the activities

Sort into groups

Sort the records. A source makes its own light; a reflector sends back light that reaches it.

  • Working lamp: gives out visible light
  • Book: visible because lamplight reflects from it
  • Mirror: sends back the torchlight arriving at it

Groups: Reflects arriving light · Makes its own light

Explanation and discussion

The working lamp is the source. The book and mirror reflect light from a source; they do not make their own visible light.

Can a surface reflect light without looking like a mirror?

Choose and explain

A red book is clearly visible under a classroom lamp. Why can we see the book?

  • The book must produce its own red light
  • Our eyes light up the book
  • Light from the lamp is reflected by the book
Explanation and discussion

The lamp supplies light and the book reflects some of it. Objects do not need to produce their own light to be visible.

Name something else in the room that is visible by reflected light.

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Shadows appearYear 3 · ProExplain shadows where opaque objects block light.Reflection and safetyYear 3 · ProRecognise reflected light and safe ways to study sunlight without looking at the Sun.Changing a shadowYear 3 · ProInterpret a fair test of object/source distance and shadow size.