Let There Be Light!

Designed by: Priscilla McPheeters, Caughman Road Elementary

Grade Level: Fourth     Subject: Science

Core Curriculum Objective: Investigate and describe ways that light can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed by an object. (4SPSA3-c)

Overview: Students will conduct experiments on ways light can be reflected, refracted and absorbed. Students will observe and make inferences from reflecting and refracting light. Students will predict what colors absorb light of different colors. Students will describe the experiments and communicate their findings in writing.

Focus Question: How can light be reflected, refracted and absorbed by an object?

Time Frame: 2 hour lessons

Resources/Materials: 

Manila Folders 

Notebook paper 

Plain white paper 

Old CD-ROM Discs 

Mirrors 

Black construction paper 

Colored objects 

Colored plastic wrap (blue, pink) 

4 Flashlights 

Tape 

Water 

Glass 

Pencil 

3 tubs to store each experiment 

Crayons 

Averkey 

www.Brainpop.com/science/light/light/index.weml

www.Brainpop.com/science/light/rainbow/index.weml

Culminating Assessment 
Students will conduct three experiments investigating reflection, refraction, and absorption. For each experiment the student will write down a brief description of the experiment in their own words and draw a sequence of events. The student will for the experiments on refraction and reflection record their observations and write down four inferences they made from their observations in a double entry page format provided at the end of this lesson. The students will create a chart for the absorption experiment were they will predict what colors will be absorbed and which will be reflected. The portfolio will be assessed by the following rubric.

Light Investigation Rubric 

Instructional Activities

Activity One
Three experiment stations need to be set up with directions and supplies at each station (Direction pages at the end of this lesson). 

1) Reflection- A flashlight, mirrors or old CD-ROM discs, black construction paper. Plain paper, and notebook paper, crayons. 

2) Refraction- A clear glass, water, pencil, plain paper, notebook paper, crayons. 

3) Absorption- Three flashlights labeled, #1 clear, #2 blue plastic wrap, #3 pink plastic wrap, different colored objects, plain paper, notebook paper, crayons.

The lights should be turned off 
Turn on the lights! "Let There be light!" 

The Teacher should handout the Assessment Rubric and a manila folder to each student. The teacher and students should discuss all the requirements of the rubric and clarify any questions. The teacher should review what an observation, inference and prediction are. The teacher should explain that the students are going to be broken up into three groups. The groups will have 20 minutes at each experiment then they will move to another station. The teacher should explain each experiment and ask students for a definition of reflection, refraction and absorption and write it down. Students are encouraged to communicate their observations, inferences and predictions with each other.

Using an Averkey the teacher should play the two Internet movies about light and rainbows at the websites given in the materials list. 

The students should then count off by threes and go to the corresponding station. The teacher should circulate around the experiments answering questions sharing in the student's discoveries.

The first day you may only get through one rotation. Stop 10 minutes before class is over to place experiment items in tubs. Have a place where students can store their portfolios.

Activity Two
The teacher should again have the experiments set out with the directions and supplies at each experiment. Pass out the student's portfolios and answer any questions from yesterday. Set the timer for 20 minutes and allow the second rotation to begin. The teacher circulates around the room answering questions and sharing in the student's discoveries. Give the students a 5-minute warning.

Have students switch to their last experiment. The teacher circulates around the room answering questions and sharing in the student's discoveries Give the students a 5-minute warning.

Have the students check over their work using the rubric in their portfolio. End the lesson by asking the students for a definition of reflection, refraction and absorption. Compare the two definitions to see if they changed from before the experiments and Internet movies. The students will be assessed using the Culminating Activity Rubric.

Experiment on Reflection 
Can Light Bounce? 
(a flashlight, small mirrors or old CD-ROMs, a piece of black construction paper) 

Directions: 
Choose a person to be the light source and the others each take a mirror or CD-ROM. 
Have the light source shine the flashlight at the mirror or CD-ROM. 
Observe what happens when you move the light source. 
What happens when you move the mirror or CD-ROM? 
What happens when you shine it at the black construction paper? 
Investigate what else you can make happen when you combine the mirrors and the light. 

You may repeat this experiment

Experiment on Refraction 
Can you Bend a Pencil? 
(A clear glass, a pencil and water) 

Directions: 
The clear glass should be filled halfway with water. 
Check the pencil is it straight? 
Place the pencil in the water and lean it against the side of the glass Look at the pencil from above.  What does it look like? 
Look at the pencil from the side. What does it look like? 
Take the pencil out of the water. Has it changed? 
Investigate what else you can do with the pencil and the water.

Experiment on Absorption 
What Color is It? 
(Three flashlights, colored plastic wrap, colored objects) 

Directions: 
Flashlight #1 Clear, Flashlight # 2 Blue colored wrap, Flashlight#3 Pink plastic wrap Each student should create a chart so they can record their predictions and observations. 
Write down your predictions for what color each object will be when you shine flashlight # 1 onto it. 
Choose someone to shine the flashlight #1 that does not have plastic wrap over it on to each object one by one. 
Write down your observations for flashlight #1 
Choose flashlight #2 and somebody else to shine it. 
Write down your prediction for the first object. 
Write down what color you think it will be when you shine flashlight #2 on it. 
Shine Flashlight #2 on it. 
Write down your observation. 
Continue through all the objects. 
Now do the same procedure for Flashlight #3

Double Entry Form