Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 60 minutes
Colour, prisms and refraction
Light, sound and waves
CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-2England: KS3 Physics: Waves (light waves)England: KS4 Combined Science: Light and electromagnetic waves
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Colour, prisms and refraction.
- 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: Reflection of light
Leads to: The electromagnetic spectrum; Refraction: refractive index, Snell's law and critical angle
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 (Reflection of light). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 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? → 25 °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 30°. What is the angle of reflection (measured from the normal)? → 60 °Prompt: The normal is at 90° to the mirror.
- Why do the words AMBULANCE appear reversed on the front of ambulances? (To look modern / It is a spelling mistake / So it glows at night / So drivers read it the right way in their rear-view mirrors) → So drivers read it the right way in their rear-view mirrorsPrompt: What does a mirror do to writing?
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: Colour, prisms and refraction. 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 does a red apple look red in white light?
- Step 1: Coloured objects reflect their own colour and absorb the rest.
- Step 2: So the answer is: It reflects red light and absorbs the other colours
- Answer: It reflects red light and absorbs the other colours
- 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.
- What does a prism do to white light? (turns it black / makes it brighter / stops it completely / splits it into a spectrum of colours) → splits it into a spectrum of coloursPrompt: Think of a rainbow.
- Colour and light: which statement is NOT true? (A red filter lets red light through and absorbs other colours. / White light is a mixture of colours. / Light slows down when it enters glass or water. / White objects absorb all colours.) → White objects absorb all colours.Prompt: Does a filter add colour or take colours away?
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 6 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.
- Colour and light: which statement is NOT true? (White light is a mixture of colours. / A red filter lets red light through and absorbs other colours. / A red filter turns white light red by adding red. / Black objects absorb most of the light that falls on them.) → A red filter turns white light red by adding red.Prompt: Does a filter add colour or take colours away?
- What colour does a green leaf look under only red light? (white / red / green / black (very dark)) → black (very dark)Prompt: A green object reflects green light only.
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: Reflection of light.
- 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: The electromagnetic spectrum; Refraction: refractive index, Snell's law and critical angle.
- 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-7.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder