Is it always dark at night-time? - Lesson

The concept of light and darkness is explored in a lesson that encourages children to distinguish between daytime and night-time activities. The lesson begins with a discussion about the different activities they engage in during the day and at night. To visually represent these concepts, children sort through photographs of various activities, placing them on two distinct posters: one representing the light of day and the other the dark of night. They are invited to enhance the posters with their own mark-making and to share their thoughts, which are then added to the display. This visual aid serves as a reference point when new stories with themes of day and night are introduced in the classroom.

Art also plays a role in this lesson, with children creating artwork inspired by famous scenes depicting daytime and night-time. They explore and mix colours to emulate the styles of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' and Seurat's 'A Sunday Afternoon'. The lesson extends into the literary realm, where children are introduced to a selection of books that revolve around the themes of darkness and night. Classics such as 'The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark' and 'Goodnight, Bear' are included in a classroom collection for reading sessions. The goal is for children to become familiar with these stories and to engage in discussions about them. Additionally, the character Peter Pan may be introduced to spark conversations about shadows and the absence thereof. Through these focused activities, usually conducted with small groups, children learn about the nuances of light and dark and how they shape our perception of time.