• 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.

1. Is a mirror a light source? (light source / not a light source (reflects light)) → not a light source (reflects light)Prompt: Does it make its own light, or does light bounce off it?
2. Why should you never look directly at the Sun? (It makes you sneeze / Its light is so strong it can damage your eyes / It is not bright / It will go out) → Its light is so strong it can damage your eyesPrompt: Even sunglasses are not safe for staring at the Sun.
3. Light: which statement is NOT true? (Our eyes give out light so that we can see. / Light travels in straight lines. / We see objects when light reflects off them into our eyes. / The Sun is a light source.) → Our eyes give out light so that we can see.Prompt: Does the Moon make its own light?

• 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.

• 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.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

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.

• 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Why do the words AMBULANCE appear reversed on the front of ambulances? (So drivers read it the right way in their rear-view mirrors / It is a spelling mistake / So it glows at night / To look modern) → So drivers read it the right way in their rear-view mirrorsPrompt: What does a mirror do to writing?
2. A ray of light hits a flat mirror at an angle of incidence of 30° (measured from the normal). What is the angle of reflection? → 30 °Prompt: The law of reflection compares the two angles.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.