Fourth graders learn how light works — that we see objects because light bounces off them into our eyes, how light reflects, how materials block or let light through, and how shadows form.
Students will be able to…
Close your eyes and the world disappears; turn off all the lights and you can’t see a thing. How does light let us see — and what happens when it hits different objects?
Project this and tap each idea. Have students learn how light lets us see, and how it reflects and makes shadows!
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Turn off the lights and you can’t see — why do we need light to see?
Students investigate.
Students explain.
Students elaborate.
Students conclude.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (Grade 4 / Elementary Science).
Develop a model to describe that light reflecting off objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen.
Develop a model of waves.
Observe energy transfer by light.
Developing and using models.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students move a flashlight closer to and farther from an object to see how the shadow’s size changes, and explain why. A printable light sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.