Light and Sound Unit Overview

Standards:
1. TLW identify light and sound as forms of energy.
2. TLW investigate properties of light.
3. TLW demonstrate how a shadow is made.
4. TLW collaboratively investigate the path of light from its source to an object to the
eye.
5. Students will be able to explain that we need light to see objects and relate light to
the sense of sight and the eye as the organ of seeing.
6. TLW investigate properties of sound through experimentation with a variety of
sound sources.

Day 1: What is energy? Introduction to light and sound as forms of energy

-Brainstorm with partners what is energy? What are some forms of energy that you
have heard of?
-Energy is the measure of how much could happen
-Why are light and sound examples of energy using this definition?
-Investigate with videos as a class
Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eoTqLnL0WI
Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWu6cDjazc
-Worksheet to go along with videos

Day 2: Light Investigation

-Daily Quiz over day 1 material
-Brainstorm with partners how do you think light moves? Why? Think about when it
runs into things.
--Light travels in a straight line.
-Light can reflect, go through, or get absorbed. Introduce motions that go with each.
-Demonstrate each with balls of light.
-Introduce the light shadow centers for the investigation.
Flashlight center (shadow)
Large light center (shadow)
Projector center (shadow)
Mirror center (reflection)
-Review the investigation all together

Day 3: Sound Investigation, What is sound?

-Daily quiz
-Brainstorm all together what is sound? How does it move?
-Introduce sound centers
-Go over the packet all together

Day 4: Colors of light investigation

-Daily quiz
-Brainstorm all together what colors might be included in white light? Why do we
certain colors?
-Prism demonstration on the projector
-Worksheet all together over demonstration
-Diffraction glasses activity all together
-Go over why we see certain colors, absorbs all the other colors except for the ones
they reflect. Do this with colors balls representing light. Throw it to students with
certain colors on and have them reflect the ones that are seen and hold the ones
they absorb.

Day 5: How does sound travel?

-Daily quiz
-Review what we found in the sound investigation?
-Sound comes from vibrations. (Back and forth motion)
-Introduce slinky and demonstrate how sound waves travel.
-Go over how waves could possibly interact as they hit objects.

Day 6: How do we perceive light?

-Daily Quiz
-Label parts of the eye and functions
-Bill Nye Eyeball

Day 7: How do we perceive sound?

-Daily Quiz
-Label parts of the ear and functions
-Bill Nye Ear/Sound

Day 8: Study Guide

-Study guide done by students by themselves
-Compare with partners
-Go over it all together

Day 9: Test
-Test from the district
-Crossword when students are done