Light and Sight · Spring Term

Shadow Play

Investigating how the position of a light source affects the size and shape of shadows.

About This Topic

Reflection and Periscopes explores what happens when light hits a surface and 'bounces' off. Students learn the law of reflection: the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. They apply this knowledge to understand how mirrors work and how we can use them to see around obstacles.

This topic is highly practical and encourages engineering-style thinking. By building periscopes, students must calculate angles and position mirrors precisely. Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation as they troubleshoot their designs and explain the path of light to their classmates.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Mirror Maze

Groups are given a 'target' (a small toy) hidden behind a box. They must use three hand-mirrors to bounce a torch beam around the obstacles to hit the target. They must draw the 'path of light' they created, showing the angles.

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Peer Teaching: Periscope Architects

Pairs build a periscope using cereal boxes and mirrors. Once finished, they must explain to another pair exactly how the light enters the top, reflects twice, and enters their eye. They then use their periscopes to 'spy' on a hidden message.

⏱ 60 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: Shiny vs. Dull

Students examine various materials (foil, paper, plastic, wood) with a torch. They discuss why some reflect a clear 'spot' of light while others just look bright. This introduces the idea of 'specular' vs 'diffuse' reflection.

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

You can see your reflection in the dark if you wait for your eyes to adjust.

What to Teach Instead

Students often think eyes 'create' sight. You must emphasize that without a light source to reflect *off* you and into the mirror, there is no light to see. A 'black box' experiment where they try to see an object with no light helps prove this.

Common Misconception

The reflection is 'inside' or 'behind' the mirror.

What to Teach Instead

Children often struggle with the geometry of reflection. Active modeling with a 'virtual' twin on the other side of a glass pane can help them understand that the light is bouncing off the surface, not going through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the law of reflection?

It states that the angle at which light hits a surface (angle of incidence) is exactly the same as the angle at which it bounces off (angle of reflection). If light hits a mirror at 45 degrees, it will reflect at 45 degrees.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching reflection?

Building periscopes is the gold standard. It requires students to apply the law of reflection to solve a problem. Using 'laser' pens (with strict safety rules) and mirrors in a slightly smoky or dusty room can also make the reflected light beams visible, which is incredibly impactful for visual learners.

Why do mirrors flip things left to right but not up and down?

Actually, mirrors flip things front to back! When you point at a mirror, your reflection points back at you. This 'reversal' is a great topic for a class debate and can be explored using 'non-reversing' mirror setups.

How do periscopes help in the real world?

They were famously used in submarines to see above the water and in the trenches during World War I to see over the top without being seen. Today, they are used in some types of surgery and in armored vehicles.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU