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Light Energy

Light Energy

TEKS Objective

The student will investigate the effects on an object by increasing or decreasing amounts of light, heat, and sound energy such as how the color of an object appears different in dimmer light or how heat melts butter.

Essential Understanding

The student knows that forces cause change and energy exists in many forms.

Science Background

Energy Story, Solar Energy: Energy Quest (website) - Students learn about the light and heat energy produced by the sun, and about the important roles this energy plays in our daily lives.

Energy Story, Solar Energy
Energy Quest, www.energyquest.ca.gov

The Science of Light: The Annenberg Foundation (website) – The effects of light including color, shadows and how light moves are explored and discussed.  Online simulation labs are available to deepen your understanding about light energy.

The Science of Light
The Annenberg Foundation, www.learner.org

Signature Lesson

Cooler in the Shadows: Science NetLinks (website) – The amount of sunlight and heat change in areas that are shaded are explored through a series of simple activities. 

Cooler in the Shadows
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

Supporting Lessons

Let the Sun Shine! TeachEngineering (website) - Students learn about different ways we use energy from the sun.

Let the Sun Shine!
TeachEngineering, www.teachengineering.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

In Search of Light: Power Sleuth (website) - Series of downloadable PDF lessons through which students consider the role of light energy in daily human life, learn that that sunlight is the primary source of light energy on Earth, and investigate light-emitting devices.

In Search of Light
Power Sleuth, www.powersleuth.org

Heat, Light and Sound: Discovery Center (PDF) - Students investigate the properties of heat, light, and sound energy in a series of fun activities and demonstrations. Includes student pages and assessment.

Heat, Light and Sound
Discovery Center, www.discoverycenter.org

Assessment Ideas

Ask your class the following questions and discuss students’ answers.

  • Where would be the coolest place to sit on a hot summer day: in the shadow of a big building or in full sunlight in the middle of a baseball field?
  • When it’s freezing and snowing outside, which is the warmer spot: in the shadow of a big building or in full sunlight in the middle of a baseball field?

 

Literature Connections

Light: Energy in Action. Mahaney, I. (ISBN-13: 978-1404221857)

My Light. Bang, M. (ISBN-13: 978-0439489614)

Sound and Light. Glover, David (ISBN-13: 978-0753455128)

Day Light, Night Light: Where Light Comes From. Branley, Franklyn (ISBN-13: 978-0064451710)

Rainbow and You. Krupp, Edwin (ISBN-13: 978-0688156015)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.1C) Recycling/disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D  The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

2.13A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

 

Light: 42 Explore (website) - Extensive list of links to teaching resources, information and classroom activities focused on the exploration of light energy.

Light
42 Explore, www.42explore.com

Resources for Teachers and Parents: Energy Quest (website) - Links to resources and science lesson plans that deal with energy, including light energy.

Resources for Teachers and Parents
Energy Quest , www.energyquest.ca.gov

For Teachers: Energy Kids (website) - Links to lesson plans, ideas for science fair experiments and field trips, and other resources for teaching students about different forms of energy, including light.

For Teachers
Energy Kids, www.learner.org

The Science of Light: Annenberg Learner (website) - Information about how humans perceive light and how light behaves as particles and waves. Includes links to lessons related to the science of light.

The Science of Light
Annenberg Learner

Renewable Solar: Energy Kids (website) - Students learn about the ability to convert solar energy into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.

Renewable Solar
Energy Kids, U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov/kids

Energy: TeachEngineering (website) - A series of nine lessons that teach students about different types of energy, including electrical, light, sound and thermal.

Energy
TeachEngineering, www.teachengineering.org

Sensing Energy: Science NetLinks (website) - Students perform simple experiments that help them to explore unseen energy produced by the sun.

Sensing Energy
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

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