1st Graders: Can You See It?

1st graders spent two days learning about and experimenting with light. To begin our exploration we created a group brainstorm using POPPLET.COM. I sent home a copy of our group brainstorm as well as a short explanation so that students could share what they learned about POPPLET.COM with their grownups.

Using tinfoil, saran wrap, wax paper, and a mirror I created 4 different manipulatives for students to better understand light and light absorbency.

Key Vocabulary:
* Light
* Light rays
* Transparent
* Translucent
* Opaque
* Reflective
* Illumination

After allowing students to play with the manipulatives and flashlights we then created a 4-fold with definitions and examples. Here are some of my 1st graders 4-folds:

Inside each flap there is  a very simple kid-friendly definitions! Ask your 1st grader what each of their new STEM words means.

During our next STEM day we continued with light by doing an experiment where we used pinhole boxes, flashlights, and our amazing predicting skills. As students entered the classroom I had drawn all the shades and shut all the lights off. Students were then prompted to imagine that they were in a room with no windows with a friend and all of a sudden the lights went out. After spending a minute imagining what it would be like, they had to brainstorm how they would see their friend.

After sharing all the ways they would see their friend, they came to the conclusion that they needed some source of light to make it possible! YAY! They got the big picture : )

Then to make the concept concrete, that light must be present in order to see, we broke off into small groups to experiment with the pinhole boxes. Students had 3 short experiments to conduct, but first they had to make predictions! 

Here is the worksheet we used to write down our discoveries

At first students thought that I didn't put anything into the box, but when they finally got to the 2nd step and were able to use the flashlights, they became very excited to try and find what I had placed in the back of each box! Ask your 1st grader what item they were able to see in the dark! : )

-Mrs. Henderson