SCIENCE: LIGHT AND DARK – KS1 / Y3
90 minutes exploring light and dark in Ripon Cathedral
NOTES FOR TEACHERS
During this time the children will:
- recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light
- discover sources of light, both natural and man-made
- observe how light sources vary in different parts of the building and outside
- explore how coloured glass (or plastic) affects light passing through it
- observe how the stained glass windows include coloured glass which allows light to pass through, plus
metal which does not allow light to pass through
This module is led by three members of the Ripon Cathedral Education Team. Upon arrival, children are met at the
West Doors by a member of the Cathedral Education team and taken to sit in the Nave. They will need to be split
into three, adult-supervised groups for activities which are delivered by the Cathedral team:
ACTIVITY A - Exploring the stained glass windows
This activity starts in the Nave where the children first sit down. We will be looking at and comparing the stained
glass windows, both inside and outside the building, asking questions about natural light sources, colour and
brightness.
Learning Objectives:
- Children will observe how the sun acts as a light source in order for us to see images in the stained glass
windows.
- Children will learn that stained glass windows require a light source behind them in order for their image to
be seen clearly.
ACTIVITY B – Exploring the Saxon Crypt
This activity starts at ground level near the entrance to the Crypt. A portable stained glass window will be used to
explore artificial light sources. The electric lights in the Crypt will be turned off for most of this activity and candles
and a torch will provide the light sources.
Learning Objectives
- discover how man-made sources of light are needed for places where natural light sources are not available
(electric lights, candles)
- explore how coloured glass affects light passing through it
- observe how the stained glass windows includes metal parts which do not allow light to pass through
Risk assessment notes for Activity B:
Candles may be lit by supervised children chosen by school personnel using a lighter provided by the Cathedral.
Cathedral Education Team member will briefly leave the crypt to turn lights off and on
Crypt accessed via narrow passageway underground down a narrow flight of steps. Risk of claustrophobia or anxiety.
Stained glass panel may be held (for projecting part of the activity) by a couple of children chosen by school personnel.
ACTIVITY C – Exploring coloured light
In the Quire part of the Cathedral (the East end). Children will have the opportunity to make small coloured
windows by sticking coloured cellophane onto precut frames (using glue sticks). They will then be paired up with
someone who has a different colour to them and look at the stained glass windows in this part of the building
through their coloured windows. These stained glass windows have especially bright red, blue and green tones in
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them. Questions: what happens when the colour of the glass and your cellophane are the same? Which colours look
darker through your cellophane?
Learning objectives:
- explore how coloured plastic affects the colour of light passing through it
Once all three activities have been explored, the group gathers in the Nave where they started off for a 5 minute
recap of what they have learned about light sources, light, shadow and colour.
For approx. 30 minutes:
In groups with an adult each, take a clipboard and pencil (provided by Ripon Cathedral) and explore the content of
stained glass windows in the Cathedral (not their shape, or the contents of a whole window as these are usually very
detailed; children are simply getting an idea of what sort of things are shown in the windows). A sheet giving
instructions will be provided.
Find a person, an animal and an object which interests you. Draw them with as much detail as you can see.
Extension: more able children can caption these.
Access: if children are not able to look up at windows for any reason, a booklet featuring photographs of many of the windows is
available
Please note that a DVD of all the stained glass windows in the Cathedral is available for sale via the Giftshop. There
is also a booklet featuring photographs of many of the windows also for sale.
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