Light and Colour Primary Resource

This primary resource introduces children to the fascinating science behind light and colour. What exactly is light? What makes something one colour rather than another? What causes rainbows?

Through clearly explained diagrams and fun illustrations, pupils will learn about the ways light waves are reflected and refracted. They will also gain an understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum as a whole.

Download the resource at the bottom of this page, together with a stimulus sheet featuring ideas for study group tasks and classroom activities!

N.B. The following information for mapping the resource documents to the school curriculum is specifically tailored to the English National Curriculum and Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. We are currently working to bring specifically tailored curriculum resource links for our other territories; including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. If you have any queries about our upcoming curriculum resource links, please email: schools@ngkids.co.uk

This Science primary resource assists with teaching the following Lower key stage 2 Science (Year 3) objectives from the National Curriculum:

Pupils should be taught to:

• Recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light.
• Notice that light is reflected from surfaces.
• Recognise that light from the sun can be dangerous and that there are ways to protect their eyes.

• Recognise that shadows are formed when the light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. 

• Find patterns in the way that the size of shadows change.

National Curriculum Upper Key Stage 2 Science (Year 6) objectives:

Pupils should be taught to:

• Recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines
• Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye.
• Explain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyes.
• Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that case them.

This Science primary resource assists with teaching the following Sciences Second level objectives from the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence:

• By exploring reflections, the formation of shadows and the mixing of coloured lights, I can use my knowledge of the properties of light to show how it can be used in a creative way.
•  By exploring radiations beyond the visible, I can describe a selected application, discussing the advantages and limitations.

Scottish Curriculum for Excellence Sciences Third level objectives:

• By exploring the refraction of light when passed through different materials, lenses and prisms, I can explain how light can be used in a variety of applications.
• By exploring radiations beyond the visible, I can describe a selected application, discussing the advantages and limitations.

Download primary resource

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