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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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. You go into a room with no windows and shut the door. The light is off. What can you see? (nothing at all / only shiny things / only red things / everything, but in black and white) → nothing at allPrompt: What is missing from the room?
  2. True or false? Our eyes shine light onto things so we can see them. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: 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? (No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights. / Yes, but only at night. / Yes, cats' eyes are light sources. / No, it is the Moon making the eyes.) → No, its eyes are reflecting the headlights.Prompt: Would the eyes shine if there were no light at all?

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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. Why do sunglasses with UV protection help your eyes on a bright day? (They make the Sun bigger. / They make you see in the dark. / They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare. / They let in more light.) → They block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.Prompt: UV is light we cannot see that can still harm eyes and skin.
  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 · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 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: playing in the shade at midday? (safe / unsafe) → safePrompt: Does it protect your eyes and skin, or expose them?
  2. Why must you never look straight at the Sun, even with sunglasses? (The Sun is too far away to see. / It makes the Sun angry. / It makes the Sun go out. / Its light is strong enough to permanently damage your eyes.) → Its light is strong enough to permanently damage your eyes.Prompt: Sunglasses reduce glare but are not made for staring at the Sun.

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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  1. Question 1

    How can you safely watch a solar eclipse?

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

  2. Question 2

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

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

    • A. safe
    • B. unsafe

  4. Question 4

    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 block harmful ultraviolet light and reduce glare.
    • D. They make you see in the dark.

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Darkness is a kind of light.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Is this safe or unsafe in strong sunlight: staring at the Sun?

    • A. safe
    • B. unsafe

  7. Question 7

    Why must you never look straight at the Sun, even with sunglasses?

    • A. The Sun is too far away to see.
    • B. It makes the Sun go out.
    • C. Its light is strong enough to permanently damage your eyes.
    • D. It makes the Sun angry.

  8. Question 8

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

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

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

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. A. safe

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

  5. 5. B. False

  6. 6. B. unsafe

  7. 7. C. Its light is strong enough to permanently damage your eyes.

  8. 8. B. False