New
New
Year 6

How light travels

I can explain that light travels in straight lines.

New
New
Year 6

How light travels

I can explain that light travels in straight lines.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We need light to be able to see things.
  2. Light travels out from a source of light in all directions.
  3. Light travels in straight lines.
  4. Scientists use diagrams to show light travelling in straight lines .

Common misconception

When children think of light, they do not necessarily think of it as travelling. Also that light is found only in bright areas and not in the space between.

Provide opportunities for children to think of different ways to model and record travelling light so it is seen as a continuous straight line.

Keywords

  • Light - We can detect with our eyes in order to see things.

  • Light source - Something that is a light source produces its own light.

  • Record - To record information is to keep it so that it can be passed on to others. This can be done in many ways including notes, tables, photos and drawings.

  • Diagram - A diagram is a simplified drawing of information.

Use torches that have strong, narrow beams of light and ensure you can make the room dark for practical investigation.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Torches, thick card (some pre-cut with holes in the centre) and string.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
  • Exploration of objects

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does light allow us do?
smell things
hear things
Correct answer: see things
Q2.
Which of these is true about sunlight?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: it is produced by the Sun
it is only produced in the daytime
Correct answer: it can damage your eyes
Q3.
Match the physical property to the description
Correct Answer:opaque,light cannot pass through it

light cannot pass through it

Correct Answer:translucent,lets some light through but is not completely see-through

lets some light through but is not completely see-through

Correct Answer:transparent,lets light pass through and is completely see-through

lets light pass through and is completely see-through

Q4.
Which of these pieces of equipment would help you record light measurements outside over the course of a day?
An image in a quiz
force meter
Correct answer: data logger
weighing scales
torch
Q5.
What is the unit of light?
kilograms
newtons
Correct answer: lux
centimetres
Celsius
Q6.
Darkness is the of light.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: absence, lack

6 Questions

Q1.
We need to be able to see things with our eyes.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: light
Q2.
What is a light source?
something that absorbs light
Correct answer: something that gives out light
something that looks light
Q3.
What is a diagram?
a cartoon style drawing about science
a table showing data
Correct answer: a simplified drawing of information
Q4.
In which direction does light travel from a light source?
An image in a quiz
only forwards
only towards objects
only towards eyes
Correct answer: in all directions
Q5.
Light travels in lines.
Correct Answer: straight
Q6.
Which of these correctly shows how light travels?
Correct answer: 1
2
3

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