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Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Light Helps Us See — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 35 minutes

Grade 1

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    5 min

    Teacher Does

    Show the closed viewing box. Tell students the toy stays inside the whole time. Ask them to predict when they will be able to see it.

    Students Do

    Predict by pointing, showing a thumb, or speaking.

    Ask

    • Can you see an ordinary toy if no light reaches it?
    • What could we change?

    Look For

    Students focus on changing the light rather than changing the toy.

  2. 02

    Explore

    10 min

    Teacher Does

    Run the hands-on investigation. Let students look at the same toy with the flashlight off, then with the flashlight shining on it. Repeat the change and use the simple LIGHT OFF / LIGHT ON recording section.

    Students Do

    Observe the same toy in both conditions, circle yes or no, and draw what they saw with the light on.

    Ask

    • What stayed the same?
    • What changed?
    • When could you see the toy?

    Look For

    The toy stayed the same; the light condition changed.

  3. 03

    Explain

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Use the class observation to state the idea in simple language: light helps us see ordinary objects. Introduce light source with a turned-on lamp or the Sun.

    Students Do

    Point to the light-on scene and complete the oral frame: “I can see it when light reaches it.”

    Ask

    • What helped you see the toy?
    • Does the toy make its own light?
    • What is a light source?

    Look For

    Students connect seeing the toy to available light and distinguish a light source from an ordinary object.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    8 min

    Teacher Does

    Move beyond the toy. Use the Practice or presentation to show a ball, a book, the Sun, a lamp, and other familiar objects. Ask students to apply the same idea in each new situation.

    Students Do

    Try the light idea with a new object, identify light sources, and choose what would help someone see a book in a dark room.

    Ask

    • Would the same idea work with a ball?
    • Which things make their own light?
    • What would help you see the book?

    Look For

    Students transfer the idea instead of only remembering what happened to the toy car.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Show the new book-in-a-dark-room situation. Ask students to point to what would help, then show a lamp and a ball and ask which one is the light source.

    Students Do

    Answer by pointing or speaking. Writing is not required.

    Ask

    • What would help you see the book?
    • Which one makes its own light?

    Look For

    Students apply the concept correctly in a new context.

Student goal

I can compare light off and light on, and I can tell what makes its own light.

Learning objectives

  • I can compare the same object with light and without light.
  • I can tell which things make light and which things need light to be seen.

Materials

  • Opaque shoe box or dark viewing box
  • One small familiar toy
  • One battery flashlight
  • Optional turned-on lamp or battery light
  • Printed investigation or worksheet
  • Crayons

Before class

  • Make one safe viewing box that blocks almost all outside light.
  • Place the same toy inside for both observations.
  • Test the flashlight before class.
  • Open Teach This Lesson and the Practice resource.

Prior knowledge

  • Students use their eyes to see.
  • Students have everyday experience with light and dark places.

Vocabulary

light
What helps us see things.
dark
A place with little or no light.
light source
Something that makes its own light.

Differentiation

  • Read every prompt aloud and let students answer by pointing.
  • Use the oral frame: “I can see it when ___.”
  • Repeat the light-off/light-on comparison before asking students to apply the idea to a new object.
  • For extension, ask students to find one safe light source and one ordinary object in the classroom.

Assessment

  • Check the LIGHT OFF / LIGHT ON investigation recording.
  • Listen for students connecting visibility to available light.
  • Check that students can identify a new light source and apply the idea to a book or ball.

Exit ticket

Show a book in a dark-room picture and ask: What would help you see it? Students may point or tell.

Extension

Find one thing that makes its own light and one thing that needs light to be seen.