Let There Be Light!

Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

Light

Let There Be Light!

4th Grade Science Unit

ALEX Standard: Recognize how light interacts with transparent, translucent, and opaque materials.

Ashley Patterson Spring 2014

Leeds Elementary/Samford University

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

Table of Contents

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9

Unit Planning Instruction Assessment Students Technology

Cross Curricular Standards Culminating Activity Rationale for Unit Design Resources/Materials

Section 10 References

Skills

Concept(s)

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

Facts

Vocabulary

Unit Objective

When given a summative assessment, students will identify the behavior of light in how it is used, seen, and travels.

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

Students will use the following skills throughout the unit: Making Inferences Making Observations Communicate effectively Make Predictions Comparing and Contrasting Classifying Collecting and Recording data

Behavior

Light is a form of energy Light travels in waves All light is made of waves Light can be described using wavelengths A wavelength is the distance from the top of one wave to the top of the next wave. Red light has the longest wavelength. Violet has the shortest. The seven colors of light that make up white light is called the visible spectrum. The seven colors that make up white light are called the visible spectrum because they are light waves we can see. A spectrum is a range of light waves with different wavelengths and energies. Light cannot bend or go around things Light travels to Earth from the sun Often sources of light also give off heat White light is made up

Wavelength Spectrum Reflection Refraction Absorption Transparent Translucent Opaque Concave Convex

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

of all colors Colors range from red to violet The electromagnetic spectrum contains a range of electromagnetic waves. These waves vary by their amount of energy. Eyeglasses help people see better by refracting light in certain ways Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths are radio waves. They have the lowest energy. The shortest wavelengths are gamma waves. They have the highest energy. Shadows form when light is blocked. Shadows show that light travels in straight lines or rays. The closer an object is to a light source, the bigger the shadow. Light coming from above an object creates a shorter shadow. Light coming from the side of an object creates a longer shadow. Light travels away from a source in straight lines and in all directions.

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

As the Earth rotates on its axis, the sun moves across the sky. It cast its shortest shadow when it is directly overhead at noon. It casts its longest shadow when it is first appears and before it disappears. Light from the sun reflects on to the moon to give it light. Most of the light that reaches your eyes is reflected light Reflection occurs when light strikes a surface and bounces off. The law of reflection says that the incoming angle is equal to the outgoing angle. When reflected light changes directions when it is reflected off a surface Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one material to another. Lenses are tools that refract light. They are used to gather light rays or spread them apart Two kinds of lens. Convex lens bring rays of light together (telescope). Concave lens spread light rays

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

apart ( magnifying glass, microscope, and camera) Light travels at different speeds in different materials. More dense, slower light travels through. As light travels more slowly, it bends more. Refraction happens when light passes through glass, water, light plastic, and other transparent materials. Most materials reflect the light falling on them. However, some materials allow light to pass through. Images focused on your retina are actually upside down. Your retina changes the images into signals that travel along your optic nerve to your brain. Your brain sees the picture right side up. We see color because matter reflects and absorbs light. White and black are not true colors. White objects do not absorb any light energy. They appear white because they reflect all wavelengths of light.

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

Black is the opposite. It absorbs all the wavelengths of the visible spectrum. When light strikes different objects it can be blocked or it can pass through Opaque no light passes through Transparent most light passes through Translucent some light passes through Scientist have found ways to code information in light Light is a fast, powerful form of energy Light helps things grow

Let There Be Light! Science Unit Section 1 Unit Planning

Bridge
What is light? How does light behave? Pre-assessment Make a list of ways that light is seen in the world today in technology.

Introduction to Light: In the Beginning Light Brings Adventure

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be? How would you travel there?

Light Brings Sight

What is your favorite color? What does ROY G BIV stand for?

Light Brings Discovery

Light Review: Wrap Up

What are the three BIG ideas of light that we have focused on this week?

Assessment