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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes

Colour, prisms and refraction

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-2England: KS3 Physics: Waves (light waves)England: KS4 Combined Science: Light and electromagnetic waves

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Colour, prisms and refraction.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Reflection of light

Leads to: The electromagnetic spectrum; Refraction: refractive index, Snell's law and critical angle

Materials: Slinky or rope, Mirrors and torches, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Reflection of light). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. A ray of light hits a flat mirror at an angle of incidence of 20° (measured from the normal). What is the angle of reflection? → 20 °Prompt: The law of reflection compares the two angles.
  2. A ray of light hits a mirror. The angle between the ray and the mirror surface is 70°. What is the angle of reflection (measured from the normal)? → 20 °Prompt: The normal is at 90° to the mirror.
  3. Why do the words AMBULANCE appear reversed on the front of ambulances? (So it glows at night / It is a spelling mistake / So drivers read it the right way in their rear-view mirrors / To look modern) → So drivers read it the right way in their rear-view mirrorsPrompt: What does a mirror do to writing?

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: Colour, prisms and refraction. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why does a red apple look red in white light?
  • Step 1: Coloured objects reflect their own colour and absorb the rest.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: It reflects red light and absorbs the other colours
  • Answer: It reflects red light and absorbs the other colours
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What colour does a green leaf look under only red light? (white / black (very dark) / red / green) → black (very dark)Prompt: A green object reflects green light only.
  2. Colour and light: which statement is NOT true? (Black objects absorb most of the light that falls on them. / Light slows down when it enters glass or water. / White light is a mixture of colours. / Light travels at the same speed in glass as in air.) → Light travels at the same speed in glass as in air.Prompt: Does a filter add colour or take colours away?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 5 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What colour does a green leaf look under only red light? (green / white / red / black (very dark)) → black (very dark)Prompt: A green object reflects green light only.
  2. Colour and light: which statement is NOT true? (Light slows down when it enters glass or water. / Light travels at the same speed in glass as in air. / Black objects absorb most of the light that falls on them. / A red filter lets red light through and absorbs other colours.) → Light travels at the same speed in glass as in air.Prompt: Does a filter add colour or take colours away?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Reflection of light.
  • Use concrete materials: slinky or rope.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: The electromagnetic spectrum; Refraction: refractive index, Snell's law and critical angle.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Colour, prisms and refraction

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Date

Score/ 5

  1. Question 1

    Colour and light: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Light slows down when it enters glass or water.
    • B. White light is a mixture of colours.
    • C. A red filter lets red light through and absorbs other colours.
    • D. A red filter turns white light red by adding red.
  2. Question 2

    What colour does a green leaf look under only red light?

    • A. green
    • B. red
    • C. white
    • D. black (very dark)
  3. Question 3

    What does a prism do to white light?

    • A. turns it black
    • B. makes it brighter
    • C. stops it completely
    • D. splits it into a spectrum of colours
  4. Question 4

    A pencil in a glass of water looks bent. Why?

    • A. Light refracts (changes direction) as it passes from water to air
    • B. Light reflects off the water
    • C. The water bends the pencil
    • D. The glass is curved
  5. Question 5

    What colour does a white T-shirt look under only red light?

    • A. white
    • B. red
    • C. green
    • D. blue

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Answer key: Colour, prisms and refraction

  1. 1. D. A red filter turns white light red by adding red.

  2. 2. D. black (very dark)

  3. 3. D. splits it into a spectrum of colours

  4. 4. A. Light refracts (changes direction) as it passes from water to air

  5. 5. B. red