Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Reflection of light
Light, sound and waves
CCSS NGSS.4-PS4-2CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-2England: KS2 Y6 LightEngland: KS3 Physics: Waves (light waves)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Reflection of light.
- 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: Light sources and seeing
Leads to: Colour, prisms and refraction; Light travels in straight lines: shadows, periscopes and seeing; The law of reflection: calculate angles
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 (Light sources and seeing). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Is a firefly a light source? (light source / not a light source (reflects light)) → light sourcePrompt: Does it make its own light, or does light bounce off it?
- Why should you never look directly at the Sun? (It makes you sneeze / Its light is so strong it can damage your eyes / It will go out / It is not bright) → Its light is so strong it can damage your eyesPrompt: Even sunglasses are not safe for staring at the Sun.
- Light: which statement is NOT true? (We see objects when light reflects off them into our eyes. / Our eyes give out light so that we can see. / The Sun is a light source. / The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight.) → Our eyes give out light so that we can see.Prompt: Does the Moon make its own light?
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: Reflection of light. 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: A ray of light hits a flat mirror at an angle of incidence of 25° (measured from the normal). What is the angle of reflection?
- Step 1: angle of incidence = angle of reflection
- Step 2: So the answer is: 25°
- Answer: 25 °
- 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.
- 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.
- A ray of light hits a mirror. The angle between the ray and the mirror surface is 20°. What is the angle of reflection (measured from the normal)? → 70 °Prompt: The normal is at 90° to the mirror.
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 6 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.
- A ray of light hits a mirror. The angle between the ray and the mirror surface is 30°. What is the angle of reflection (measured from the normal)? → 60 °Prompt: The normal is at 90° to the mirror.
- Which surface reflects light best to form a clear image? (a sheet of paper / a smooth, shiny mirror / a rough wooden board / black velvet) → a smooth, shiny mirrorPrompt: Smooth surfaces reflect light in one direction.
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: Light sources and seeing.
- 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: Colour, prisms and refraction; Light travels in straight lines: shadows, periscopes and seeing; The law of reflection: calculate angles.
- 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-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder