Measuring reflected light: do and review
I can investigate how changing the angle of a mirror affects the angle of reflected light.
Measuring reflected light: do and review
I can investigate how changing the angle of a mirror affects the angle of reflected light.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- If you change the angle that light hits a surface, the angle of reflection will also change.
- Mirrors are highly reflective. They are sometimes used to deliberately change the direction that light travels.
- Reflected light bounces off the surface at the same angle as it hits it.
- When you measure angles, it is acceptable for results to vary slightly because it is difficult to measure perfectly.
Keywords
Reflected - If light is reflected it is bounced off a surface.
Angle - An angle is the space between two straight lines which join at a vertex or point.
Protractor - A protractor is a piece of equipment used to measure and draw angles.
Results - The results of a test or enquiry is what happened or what was found out.
Evidence - Evidence is information which helps us to prove that something is true or not true.
Common misconception
Only shiny surfaces reflect light. Light does not always travel in straight lines when it bounces off a mirror.
The lesson gives the children a chance to explore reflection of light in mirrors to see for themselves that it does reflect in a straight line.
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Measuring reflected light: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Measuring reflected light: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Light and how it travels unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Torches, mirrors, sticky tack, protractors, large sheets of paper, marker pens.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
