Werklund School of Education

University of Calgary | Undergraduate Programs in Education

Lesson Overview

Dates March 2025 Subject Science (Light)
Grade Level Grade 2 Length 60 Minutes
Unit Energy Exploration Lesson # 4
Teacher Lucas Johnson

Identify Desired Results

Learner Outcomes

  • Explain shadow formation through the blocking of light rays.
  • Understand reflection (bouncing) and refraction (bending) of light rays.
  • Observe and describe predictable patterns in light behavior.

Objective (Student-Friendly)

  • I Know: Solid objects make shadows.
  • I Understand: Light bounces off mirrors and bends in water.
  • I Can: Use a mirror to aim a light beam at a target.

Assessment Strategies

Formative:

  • Observation of students during the "Reflection Target" game.
  • Ask: "Why does the pencil look broken in the water?" (Refraction).
  • Review drawings of shadows at different angles.

Differentiated Learning & Resources

Resources

  • Flashlights & Laser pointers (Safety monitored)
  • Plastic Mirrors
  • Clear cups with water & pencils
  • Opaque blocks & figurines

Personalization

  • Challenge: Explore reflection off curved surfaces (spoons).
  • Support: Provide pre-drawn shadow outlines for tracing.
  • Safety: Strict guidelines on laser use (never point at eyes).

Lesson Sequence

1. Hook: The Broken Pencil (2 min)

  • Place a pencil in a clear glass of water. Ask: "Is it really broken? Why does it look bent?" Introduce the idea of light bending.

2. Explicit Instruction (10 min)

  • Shadows (Blocking): Opaque objects stop light rays, leaving a dark shape.
  • Reflection (Bouncing): Light bounces off hard, flat surfaces (mirrors) like a ball off a wall.
  • Refraction (Bending): Light bends when it moves from one material to another (air to water).

3. Activity Stations (30 min)

Station Task Discovery
Shadow Lab Change light angles to stretch and shrink shadows. Blocking & Angles
Mirror Maze Bounce light off mirrors to hit a paper target. Bouncing (Reflection)
Water Lab Look at objects through water and describe shifts. Bending (Refraction)

4. Wrap-up and Reflection (15 min)

  • Discussion: "How do we aim light with a mirror?" (Change the angle).
  • Journal: "Draw a shadow and label the opaque object that made it."

Glossary

  • Opaque: Something that blocks light completely.
  • Shadow: The dark shape made when light is blocked.
  • Reflection: Light bouncing off a surface.
  • Refraction: Light bending when it enters a new material.