Light and Shadows - Lesson 4 | Refraction

Downloadable (1 PDF - 11 pages)

The Refraction activity can also be found within the Light and Shadows - Let's Do Science Bundle. If you are interested in purchasing this activity and more, you can check out the Light and Shadows bundle here.

Ideal for grades 4-5, in this lesson students will use various shaped glass pieces as well as different media (air and water) to understand the basic principles of the bending of light.

By the end of the activity students should be able to:

• Understand that light can be reflected, absorbed, and refracted
• Examine how light is transmitted through different mediums (water and fiber)
• Discover the critical angle for light traveling from water to air and the angle of incidence
• Define reflection, refraction and absorption of light
• Understand how light travels through different mediums

Additional resources included with the activity plan:

• Background information with hypothesis
• Refraction mat
• Refraction grid
• Student worksheet
• Instructions

Additional resources required:

• Square piece of glass (1 per group)
• Convex glass (1 per group)
• Concave glass (1 per group)
• Empty glass container (1 per group)
• Glass container filled with water (1 per group)
• Flashlight (1 per group)
• White screen (can be created by using a
  textbook, folder, etc.) (1 per group)