Children can learn about reflected light and shadows using materials that have a mirrored surface, with light from the sun or from a flashlight. Which items refract? Which reflect?
Lesson Plan Fact Sheet:
- Light - Energy that we can see created by something hot.
- A shadow is formed behind an object when it blocks the light.
- A mirror reflects light. We can see images of ourselves and other objects in mirrors.
- Sources of light - Sun, fire, lamp, lightbulb.
- Transparent - An object that lets light pass through. Some light can pass through transparent materials such as a glass of water.
- Reflect - When light hits a material and bounces back.
- Refract - When light passes through a material it slows down. This causes light to bend.
Try these 10 ideas to learn more about light and shadows:
Shadow Sheet
This activity requires a sunny day. Set up a bedsheet outside; hang it from trees or a pole. Have the children find different toys and objects to create shadows on the sheet.
Shadow Puppets
Using a bedsheet outside, make puppets with paper cutouts and popsicle sticks. You can choose a favorite book and create paper puppets of the characters in the book. Then re-enact the book using your homemade puppets!
Light Table
Create your own light table! Using a clear storage bin with a lid, place Christmas lights or LED battery decorative lights inside the bin. Place the lid on top. Gather different materials to observe on your light table. We had fun with magna-tiles. We also had fun doing this activity in a darker room. Please always observe this activity and remember to turn the lights off after use.
Flashlight Shadows
In a dark room or at night, use a flashlight to create hand puppets and shows on the wall. You can also use a toy dinosaur or a teddybear. Shine the flashlight on all the objects individually against the wall to see objects come to life.
Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque?
Shine a flashlight on the wall. Now place various objects in front of the flashlight (toys, wood, paper plate, etc.). How much light passes through?
Rainbow Lights with a CD
With the shiny side of the CD you can reflect the light from your flashlight onto a blank wall creating a rainbow. You can also cut out snowflakes to tape them to the shiny side of the CD. This will then create different rainbow patterns on the wall.
Mirror Play
Have children look in a mirror and touch the right side of their face. Which side of the face is touched in the mirror? Have children write their name on a piece of paper. Now look at it in the mirror. What happens? Place magna-tiles or pattern blocks on a large mirror and have children build on the mirror. Children will see dimensional reflections.
Block Shadow Tracing
Outside on a sunny day use white paper, line up some blocks, have the children build something on the paper with the blocks. Provide writing tools such as pencils or markers. Children will observe their shadow creations on the paper; they can then trace the shadow on the paper! You can also use other large toys and objects.
Shadow Person
Trace your friend's shadow outside with chalk!
Rainbow Painting
Tape a piece of white paper to the wall. Use a CD, water and sunlight or a flashlight to cast rainbows on the white paper/wall. Children will see rainbows on the paper. Use watercolors to paint over the rainbows!
