Light Energy Introduction

LIGHT is a form of Energy.

LIGHT SOURCES are objects that make their own light

• Ask children to brainstorm a list of Light Sources. (Sun, stars, light bulbs, car headlights, flashlights, fireflies, etc.)
• Ask if they know of any light sources that we can not see (X rays, radio waves, microwaves) 

Activity

Can you see a light beam?

Materials needed

• flashlight
• spray bottle filled with water
• notebook
• pencil

Light Beam

Directions

1. Darken a room.
2. Turn on the flashlight and aim it across the darkened room. Have the children observe.
3. Ask students if they can see a light beam.
4. Have students predict what will happen if they spray some water in front of the flashlight?
5. Turn on the flashlight again and spray the water in the flashlight's path of light. Have the children observe.
6. Ask the children to explain what they see. (They should see a beam of light.)
7. Explain that the water reflects the light and that is why they can now see the beam of light.
8. Have students draw pictures of what they saw before and after the water was sprayed in front of the lit flashlight.

Download a free Light Energy Word Search Puzzle at my website! Click on Science Worksheets.

                   https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

Light Energy Word Search

Have fun teaching Science!

The Science of Light - 7 Fun Activities

Teaching about LIGHT can be a lot of fun!

Back in February of 2011, I spent the month posting some fun science ideas, activities, and experiments for teaching about LIGHT.

In today's post, I have gathered some of those activities to make it easy for you to access some of the ideas.



The Science of Light


To read some or all of blog posts just click on the links below. You can also click on the picture to go to a post that is an introduction to Light.


What Causes Shadows?  http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-causes-shadows.html

Light Reflection  http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/reflected-light.html

Light Absorption http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/light-video.html

What happens when light hits an object? http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/transparent-translucent-and-opaque.html

Light Refraction http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/refraction.html

Does light travel in a straight line?  http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/does-light-travel-in-straight-line.html

Prisms http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/using-prism-to-view-rainbow.html


There are more activities here on my blog plus I have a Pinterest page all about Light and Color . To visit my Pinterest page, just click on the link below.

http://www.pinterest.com/marcia_murphy22/light-and-color/


Have fun with science!

 

Light Waves and Sound Waves Comparison

If the students have participated in a study of both LIGHT and SOUND, they could now create a GRAPHIC ORGANIZER comparing Light Waves and Sound Waves.

The students could draw a graphic organizer in their notebook or you could download a FREE graphic organizer from Learning Workroom's website such as the Venn Diagram.

Click here: https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

Go to Free Worksheets

If the students need help, they could use dictionaries, online encyclopedias, or science books to research these topics further.

Here are some facts that could be included in the students' graphic organizers

• Light and sound both travel as waves.
• Light waves and sound waves are both forms of energy.
• Both types of waves change their speed when they travel through various media.
• Both light waves and sound waves can be reflected and refracted.
• Light waves travel faster than sound waves.
• Sound waves travel slower than light waves.
• Light waves do NOT require a medium through which to travel
• Sound waves require a medium through which to travel.
• Light waves can travel through space or in a vacuum.
• Sound waves can not travel through space or in a vacuum.
• Sound travels best through opaque objects. 
• Light does not travel through opaque objects.

Also if you would like 2 free word search puzzles (Light Energy and Sound Energy, you may download free copies at my website. 

https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

(Go to the free science worksheets page.)

Light Energy

Sound Energy

Have fun teaching science!

Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque Materials

What happens when LIGHT hits an object?

Three (3) things can happen.

• Light passes through easily (if the object is transparent)
• Light is blurred (if the object is translucent)
• Light is blocked (if the object is opaque)

Materials

• Transparent object(s) {clear plastic cup, glass, water, etc.}
• Translucent object(s) {some tinted plastic cups, waxed paper, sunglasses, etc.}
• Opaque object(s) {some plastic cups, aluminum foil, cardboard, etc.}
• Flashlight 
• Plastic plate (optional)

Experiment

1. Show the children 3 different objects (1 transparent, 1 translucent, 1 opaque).
2. Have the children predict what will happen when they shine a light on each object
3. Have the children shine a light on each object, observe what happens, and sketch a picture of what happens and/or record their data in their science notebooks.

transparent (air)

transparent (cup)

 transparent (cup and water)

translucent (cup)

opaque (cup)

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES

For a follow up arts and crafts activity children can use their (recycled ) materials and make a  "Light" mobile to hang. They can look for other lightweight transparent, translucent, and opaque objects to put on their mobile.

Download a free Light Energy Word Search Puzzle at my website! Click on Science Worksheets.

                   https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

For more Light Energy Activities, click the link below.

https://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-science-of-light-7-fun-activities.html

If you are teaching a unit on light energy you might like to view my illustrated LIGHT ENERGY WORD WALL CARDS at my TPT shop.

Click HERE

HAVE FUN TEACHING SCIENCE! 

Light Energy Word Search & Activities

Word searches are a great way to introduce or review science vocabulary with students in grades 3-5.

Light Energy Word Search Puzzle

This light energy word search puzzle is great to use with elementary school students as they explore the physical science topic of light energy!

Light Energy Word Search Puzzle

This worksheet is easy to use at home or in the classroom. The words run horizontal and vertical. It is No Prep for the teacher just Print and Go!  An answer key is provided!

You can print out copies for your student(s). They can use pencils, crayons, markers, or highlighters to complete the word search.

FREE LIGHT ENERGY PUZZLE

If you prefer, you can use the Light Word Search in a center. You can put the printable in a plastic sleeve and the students can use dry erase markers to find all the vocabulary words! 

Use the free science pages on my website to download the worksheets.  https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

Teaching about LIGHT can be a lot of fun! 

If you would like some fun science ideas, activities, and experiments for teaching about LIGHT, I have gathered some of those activities together to make it easy for you to access the ideas.

Click on the link below to go to the page here on my blog!

Learning Ideas - Grades K-8: Search results for light (learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com)

The Science of Light


If you are interested in more free physical science word searches for your students, click the link below.

Learning Ideas - Grades K-8: 4 Free Physical Science Word Search Puzzles: Matter, Magnetism, Electricity, & Sound (learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com)

SCIENCE WORD SEARCH PUZZLES

Have fun teaching science!

Does Light Travel in a Straight Line?

 Learning Concepts

1. Light travels in a straight line.
2. When something blocks the path of light a shadow is formed.

Materials 

• flashlight
• 3 index cards with a hole punched in the center of each card
• something to hold the 3 cards upright (I used 3 clips) 
 

Directions

• Stand the cards up a few inches apart on a flat surface. (Line up the holes.)
• Shine a flashlight from one end through all the holes.
• Did the light travel through all the holes?
• Move the middle card a little so the hole is not lined up.
• Shine a light through the holes.
• What happened?
• Did the light travel through all the holes? 
• Does light travel in a straight line?
• What happens to light when it is blocked?
• How is a shadow formed?

Download a free Light Energy Word Search Puzzle at my website! Click on Science Worksheets.

                   https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

Light Energy Word Search Puzzle

Have fun teaching science!

Using a Prism to View a Rainbow

The Colors of White Light

This activity is to have students understand that WHITE LIGHT is actually made up of a SPECTRUM of colors.

                 Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

Too cloudy....had to wait 2 days for the Sun!

Materials

• Prism
• Flashlight
• White wall, white ceiling, or white poster board
• Lots of natural sunlight, flashlight, or overhead projector light

Directions:

• Turn on a flashlight.
• Ask the children a question, "What color is light?"
• Tell them that we will be doing an activity/experiment to get the answer to our question.
• Put a prism in a very sunny window or have the students hold up a prism to the natural light or the flashlight, etc.
• The students should OBSERVE a rainbow on the wall, ceiling, or poster board.
• Discuss the students' observations.
• Have students SKETCH a picture of what they observed. 

 

Explanation: White light hits the glass prism. When the light hits the prism, it is slowed down and bent. When the colors come out the other side, they are bent again. Each color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) is bent by a different amount and the colors are separated.


More examples of light bending!
Materials needed: prism and straws or crayons
Directions: Place a prism over the straws or crayons. Have Fun!

Explanation: Light travels fastest through air. When light enters the glass prism it slows down and changes direction a little, making the straws or crayons look bent.




Have fun with rainbows!

 

The Science of Light Video and Light Absorption Video

This video presently on You Tube titled Show Me Science - The Science of Light is for kids and answers some of their questions about light.



                       LIGHT   ? ? ? ? ?

Click here: Science of Light Video


Here is another video about ABSORPTION of  LIGHT. 
Gummi Bears and Gummi Worms are used in this demonstration of Light Absorption!

Click Here: Light Absorption and Reflection Video

Enjoy learning about LIGHT!

Reflected Light

How does light help us see things?

• Light must have a source (Sun, flashlight, lamp, etc.) for us to see anything!
• Light can be reflected.  Reflection means to bounce off an object.
• The reflection of light on an object is what allows us to see an object.
• The reflected light enters your eye and an image of the object forms at the back of your eye. This image is sent to your brain and then you see the image of the object.
• Reflected Light makes it possible to see yourself in a mirror.

 

Activity

• Have children use a mirror to see their reflection.
• Have them wink their right eye. Ask: "Which eye in the mirror winked?" (left eye).
• Have them wave their right hand. Ask: "Which hand in the mirror waved?" (left hand).
• Have them hold up a book, piece of paper with their name, or other writing in front of the mirror. Ask the children how the writing looked.
• Help the children understand that the image is always reversed.

• Ask the children if they can think of any other times that they saw their reflection other than using a mirror. ( Possible answers: in a clear, calm pool of water, on a glass door, on the side of a shiny toaster, in a spoon, on a television screen, etc. ) 
• Ask the children what all these things have in common?  (They all are smooth flat surfaces.)  

        Smooth, flat surfaces reflect light best!

Download a FREE Light Energy Word Search Puzzle at my website for your students! Click on Science Worksheets.

                   https://www.LearningWorkroom.com

LIGHT ENERGY WORKSHEET

Have fun teaching science!!!

Science of Light Video and Word Search Puzzle

Yesterday's post was a collection of fun LIGHT ideas, activities, and experiments that you can use to teach kids about light. If you missed the post, you can click here.

For today, I have 2 links. The first will take you to Bill Nye's video on LIGHT.

Have you been watching Dancing with the Stars? Bill Nye is one of the dancers this season.  (A dancing scientist - how cool!!!) I heard that after his performance last week, he got 3 million hits on his facebook page!!! WOW, way to go Bill! :)

The second link will take you to my website, where I store LOTS of my free worksheets. You will be able to download a free Light Energy Worksheet.

Bill Nye - Light Video

http://learningideasgradesk-8.blogspot.com/2011/02/bill-nye-video-light-and-color.html


Light Energy Word Search Puzzle

http://www.learningworkroom.com/Free_Science_Worksheets.html


Have fun with science!

 

What Causes Shadows?

What happens when light is blocked by an OPAQUE object?


Materials

• flashlight or other light source
• opaque object

Directions

• Have students PREDICT what will happen when light is blocked by an opaque object.
• Shine a flashlight or other light source on the wall.
• Choose an opaque object to put in front of the light source to block the path of light.
• OBSERVE.  (A shadow should form.)
•  Have the students RECORD their observation(s) in their science notebooks.

 

Other Activities

• This same activity can be done outside using the Sun instead of a flashlight!

• Children may enjoy making animal shadows on the wall/ground.

• A nature walk on a sunny day is also fun to observe shadows in nature. (Trees make great shadows!)