Darkness, Sunlight and Reflection - Lesson Plan

This comprehensive lesson plan, designed by The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd, delves into the scientific concepts of darkness, sunlight, and reflection. Aimed at Key Stage 2 students, the plan covers essential science skills such as pattern seeking, classifying, and researching using secondary resources. It aligns with the National Curriculum, teaching pupils the importance of light for vision, the nature of reflection from surfaces, and the potential dangers of sunlight to the eyes. Prior learning from Year 1 about seasons and changes in day length is built upon, and the plan provides links to Year 5 and Year 6 curriculum topics, including the properties of materials and the behaviour of light. Cross-curricular connections are made with English, through reading Lord Byron's poem 'Darkness', and Geography, by exploring the Inuit people's methods to prevent snow-blindness. Health and safety considerations are highlighted to ensure a secure learning environment, and common misconceptions about luminous bodies like the Moon and planets are addressed.

The lesson plan includes a variety of engaging activities, such as measuring brightness with a light meter and exploring the properties of reflection using mirrors and a toy figure. Students will investigate the Law of Reflection through hands-on experiments and consider practical applications of reflection in everyday life. They will also evaluate different materials to determine which makes the best lens for sunglasses, considering factors like transparency and the ability to block harmful ultraviolet light. Throughout the lesson, key scientific concepts are explained, such as the role of reflection in vision and the characteristics of good reflectors. The plan is supplemented with keywords like 'Darkness', 'Reflection', 'Lux', and mentions influential scientists such as Euclid and Isaac Newton. The lesson culminates in a plenary where pupils reflect on their understanding of darkness, reflection, the properties of reflectors, the dangers of certain types of light, and protective measures for the eyes.