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Light Energy

Light Energy

TEKS Objective

Students will identify and discuss how different forms of energy such as light, heat, and sound are important to everyday life.

Essential Understanding

The student knows that energy, force, and motion are related and are a part of their everyday life.

Science Background

What is Energy? Annenberg Learner (website) - Differentiates between the scientific meaning of “energy,” vs. its broad interpretation among the general public, and explains different forms and sources of energy.

What is Energy?
Annenberg Learner, www.learner.org

What is Energy? U.S. Energy Information Administration (website) - Basic information about the many forms of energy.

What is Energy?
U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov

Signature Lesson

Energy for Life: National Energy Education Development Project (PDF) - Students seek to answer the question, “Must plants have energy from the sun to live?”

Energy for Life
National Energy Education Development Project, www.need.org

Supporting Lessons

Colors and Light: National Energy Education Development Project (PDF) - Investigate the question, “Do some colors absorb more sunlight than others?”

Colors and Light
National Energy Education Development Project, www.need.org

Sun Power to Change Colors: The NEED Project (PDF) - Students discover if/how light energy from the sun changes colored construction paper placed outdoors.

Sun Power to Change Colors
The NEED Project, www.need.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Solar Heating and Designing of a Solar Cooker: Education.com (website) - Information on solar energy and instructions for making sun tea.

Solar Heating and Designing of a Solar Cooker
by Janice VanCleave, Education.com

Assessment Ideas

Ask the following questions to assess students’ understanding of light energy. Have them provide their answers verbally or write explanations in their science notebooks.

  • From where does our planet, Earth, receive the majority of its light and heat energy?
  • Why is light energy an important part of our everyday lives?

Literature Connections

The Energy We See: A Look at Light. Boothroyd, Jennifer. (ISBN-13: 9780761360926)

The Sun: Our Nearest Star. Branley, Franklyn M. (ISBN-13: 9780064452021)

Related Science TEKS

(1.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

(1.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move.

(1.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data and make observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, and non-standard measurement tools.

(1.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data and observations using pictures, numbers, and words.

(1.2E) Communicate Observations
The student is expected to communicate observations with others about simple descriptive investigations.

(1.4A) Tools for Collecting Information
The student is expected to collect information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, primary balances, cups, bowls, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices, including clocks and timers; non-standard measuring items such as paper clips and clothespins; weather instruments such as demonstration thermometers and wind socks; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(1.4B) Non-Standard Measurement Units
The student is expected to measure organisms and objects and parts of organisms and objects, using non-standard units.

Related Math TEKS

1.9A    The student is expected to collect and sort data.

1.9B     The student is expected to use organized data to construct real object graphs, picture graphs, and bar-type graphs.

1.11C   The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, or acting it out in order to solve a problem.

1.11D  The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

1.12A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

1.13A  The student is expected to justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Our Very Own Star, The Sun: NASA (PDF) - Introduce the sun as one of the most important objects in the sky. Read the story to students to reinforce the fact that the sun provides light and heat energy to our planet, Earth.

Our Very Own Star, The Sun
NASA, www.nasa.gov

Edison and the Light Bulb: Science NetLinks (website) - Introduces students to the realm and power of inventions, and helps them to understand the impact of inventions on people and society.

Edison and the Light Bulb
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

Sunblock Investigation: PBS (website) - Students set up a simple experiment to determine how sunscreen counteracts light and heat energy produced by the sun.

Sunblock Investigation
PBS, www.pbs.org

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