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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Dark means no light; protect your eyes from the Sun

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.4-PS4-2England: KS2 Y3 Light

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Dark means no light; protect your eyes from the Sun.

  • 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: Why we need light to see things

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Why we need light to see things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Why can you see a book on your desk? (The book makes its own light. / Your eyes send out light onto the book. / Light from a lamp or the Sun bounces off the book into your eyes. / Books glow in the dark.) → Light from a lamp or the Sun bounces off the book into your eyes.Prompt: Does a book give out its own light?
  2. True or false? Most things we see do not make their own light. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where does the light start, and where must it end?
  3. A cat's eyes seem to shine in the dark when a car's headlights catch them. Is the cat making light? (Yes, cats' eyes are light sources. / No, it is the Moon making the eyes. / No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights. / Yes, but only at night.) → No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights.Prompt: Would the eyes shine if there were no light at all?

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: Dark means no light; protect your eyes from the Sun. 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 do sunglasses with UV protection help your eyes on a bright day?
  • Step 1: UV-blocking lenses protect eyes from damage over time.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.
  • Answer: They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.
  • 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. How can you safely watch a solar eclipse? (Look through ordinary sunglasses. / Look quickly and then look away. / Look through binoculars. / Use certified eclipse glasses or project the image through a pinhole onto card.) → Use certified eclipse glasses or project the image through a pinhole onto card.Prompt: Ordinary sunglasses let through far too much light.
  2. True or false? We need light to see; in total darkness we see nothing. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Think about how light reaches eyes and skin.

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.
  1. True or false? Sunscreen protects skin from ultraviolet (UV) light. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Think about how light reaches eyes and skin.
  2. Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: looking at the Sun through binoculars? (safe / unsafe) → unsafePrompt: Does it protect your eyes and skin, or expose them?

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: Why we need light to see things.
  • 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

  • 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-3.

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

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Dark means no light; protect your eyes from the Sun

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: wearing a sun hat?

    • A. safe
    • B. unsafe

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Light from the Sun can damage your eyes.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    What is "dark"?

    • A. a shadow from the Moon
    • B. a kind of black light
    • C. a gas that fills rooms at night
    • D. the absence of light

  4. Question 4

    Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: putting on sunscreen?

    • A. safe
    • B. unsafe

  5. Question 5

    True or false? It is safe to stare at the Sun through sunglasses.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Why do sunglasses with UV protection help your eyes on a bright day?

    • A. They let in more light.
    • B. They make the Sun bigger.
    • C. They make you see in the dark.
    • D. They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.

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Answer key: Dark means no light; protect your eyes from the Sun

  1. 1. A. safe

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. D. the absence of light

  4. 4. A. safe

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. D. They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.