Introducing
Light
All Around
Continents
Us
How to use these notes
demonstrating that the light we see from the Moon is
actually a reflection of light from the Sun.
• Have children complete the activity sheet on page 3,
identifying sources of light.
These teacher notes and independent activities can be
used to introduce pupils to the concept of light. These
activities are suitable for Reception to Year 2 pupils. All
the activities included are stand-alone but by using them
alongside the books in the series Light All Around Us,
children can explore the topics in more detail.
Light and Dark
• Write the word dark on the board and ask children
for the opposite word (light). Talk about how dark is
the absence of light, and ask children how they think
the room could be made dark (turn off the lights,
cover the windows, turn off computer screens, etc.). If
possible, try their suggestions until the room is made
as dark as possible. During this exercise, use the terms
darker, lighter/brighter, darkest, brightest to help them
become familiar with comparative language as well as
understand the concept that light and darkness can
vary in intensity and define the term bright as very
strong light.
• Extend the experience to demonstrate how we need
light in order to distinguish colour. In a lit room, show
them two objects that are similar in all aspects except
for colour, such as a blue and a green ball. Then mix
the objects up and have children try to distinguish
between the two objects in a darkened room.
• Have children complete the activity sheet on page 4,
identifying things that are darker or brighter.
Curriculum links
Science: Light
KS1: Year 1 Pupils should be taught to:
• observe and name a variety of sources of light, including
electric lights, flames and the Sun
• associate shadows with a light source being blocked by
something.
discussion points
Write the word “light” on the board and ask children
to name different ways we use light (to see, to read, to
decorate for celebration, as a traffic signal, etc.). Explain
that our eyes need light in order see the things around
us. Have children look around the room and identify as
many sources of light as possible. Turn off the overhead
lights and see if they recognize any further source of light
(for example, on a computer screen).
Shadows and Reflections
• Early in the day on a sunny day, bring children outside
and have them look at their shadows. Are they long or
short? What makes them move? What happens if the
Sun goes behind some clouds? Point out the position
of the Sun and explain to children that a shadow forms
when light gets blocked by something – in this case
their bodies are blocking the sunlight. Look around
for shadows that are made by things other than their
bodies (trees, play equipment, etc.).
• Extend the activity above by having children examine
and measure their shadows initially and at one or
two other points during the day, when the Sun is at
different locations in the sky. Have children record their
observations on the activity sheet on page 5.
General activities
Sources of Light
• With children, review things that create light (i.e., light
bulbs, the Sun, fire, matches, lasers, etc.). Explain that
there are many things that do not create their own
light, but that reflect light.
• Demonstrate how the Moon reflects light by using a
torch and a large and small ball, or models of the Earth
and Moon if available. Explain that the torch represents
the Sun, a source of light. Have one child hold the ball
representing the Earth and another child holding the
ball representing the Moon as it orbits around the
Earth. Shine the torch to reflect on the Earth and Moon,
©Raintree Publishers 2013. This page may be photocopied for classroom use.
www.raintreepublishers.co.uk
1
Websites
further reading
Use these websites to help children further understand
the concept of light:
The Light All Around Us series is made up of the following
titles:
• Online interactive tool that guides children to
explore light and dark: www.bbc.co.uk/schools/
scienceclips/ages/5_6/light_dark_fs.shtml
• Further background and resources for teachers on
the science of light: www.learner.org/teacherslab/
science/light/index.html
• How Do We Use Light?
• Light and Dark
• Shadows and Reflection
• Sources of Light
To view all titles in the series, visit our website: www.
raintreepublishers.co.uk/product/9781406238150
©Raintree Publishers 2013. This page may be photocopied for classroom use.
www.raintreepublishers.co.uk
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Activity 1: Sources of Light
Name ______________________________________ Date ______________________
Draw a circle around objects that are a source of light.
Learning outcome: Identify objects that are a source of light.
©Raintree Publishers 2013. This page may be photocopied for classroom use. www.raintreepublishers.co.uk
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Activity 2: How Bright?
Name ______________________________________ Date ______________________
Look at each object on the bottom of the page and think about how much
light they give. Cut out the objects and paste them on the page in order from
bright to brightest.
bright
brighter
brightest
Learning outcome: Identify and order objects that have varying degrees of light.
©Raintree Publishers 2013. This page may be photocopied for classroom use. www.raintreepublishers.co.uk
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Activity 3: Watching Your Shadow
Name ______________________________________ Date ______________________
Have a friend or adult help you measure your shadow at different times
during the day. Write your answers on the chart below.
Time
:
___________
________________
:
___________
________________
:
___________
________________
How long is your shadow?
_______________________
cm
cm
________________________
________________________
cm
Learning outcome: Observe how shadows can change as the sun
changes position in the sky.
©Raintree Publishers 2013. This page may be photocopied for classroom use. www.raintreepublishers.co.uk
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