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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. A cat's eyes seem to shine in the dark when a car's headlights catch them. Is the cat making light? (No, it is the Moon making the eyes. / Yes, but only at night. / Yes, cats' eyes are light sources. / No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights.) → No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights.Prompt: Would the eyes shine if there were no light at all?
  2. True or false? If you wait long enough in a totally dark room, your eyes will see everything. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Where does the light start, and where must it end?
  3. What does a torch (flashlight) do in a dark cave? (It makes the cave warmer, so we see better. / It makes our eyes stronger. / It makes the walls give out light. / It gives out light that bounces off the walls so we can see them.) → It gives out light that bounces off the walls so we can see them.Prompt: Where does the light start, and where does it end up?

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 binoculars. / Look quickly and then look away. / Look through ordinary sunglasses. / 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? Sunscreen protects skin from ultraviolet (UV) light. (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. Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: viewing the Sun with a pinhole projector? (safe / unsafe) → safePrompt: Does it protect your eyes and skin, or expose them?
  2. True or false? Light from the Sun can damage your eyes. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Think about how light reaches eyes and skin.

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

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Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    How can you safely watch a solar eclipse?

    • A. Look through ordinary sunglasses.
    • B. Look quickly and then look away.
    • C. Look through binoculars.
    • D. Use certified eclipse glasses or project the image through a pinhole onto card.
  2. Question 2

    Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: watching an eclipse through ordinary sunglasses?

    • A. safe
    • B. unsafe
  3. Question 3

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

    • A. True
    • B. False
  4. Question 4

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

    • A. They make the Sun bigger.
    • B. They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.
    • C. They make you see in the dark.
    • D. They let in more light.
  5. Question 5

    Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: staying in strong sun all day without cover?

    • A. safe
    • B. unsafe
  6. Question 6

    True or false? We need light to see; in total darkness we see nothing.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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

  1. 1. D. Use certified eclipse glasses or project the image through a pinhole onto card.

  2. 2. B. unsafe

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. B. They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.

  5. 5. B. unsafe

  6. 6. A. True