What your child will discover
Help the child understand that visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Objects are seen when light from a source or reflected light enters the eyes.
Lesson 253 of 300
What Are Light, Colour, and Shadows?
Learn how light travels, reflects, refracts, scatters, transmits, and is absorbed, creating colour and shadows when it reaches materials and eyes.
4–5 yearsScience, Technology & MediaAdult guided
Science, Technology & Media · KnowledgeForKids.com
Listen together · adult controls the audio
The spoken lesson
"Light travels from a source. We see most objects when light reflects from them and enters our eyes. Light may reflect, be absorbed, pass through a material, bend through refraction, or scatter in many directions. Transparent materials transmit much visible light. Translucent materials transmit and scatter some, while opaque materials block most of it. Visible light contains different wavelengths that contribute to colour. An opaque object creates a shadow where less direct light arrives. Colour and shadow change with lighting and position. Never stare at the Sun or aim a bright light or laser toward eyes. Light travels from sources, interacts with materials, and enters our eyes so we can see." DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: Use cool lamps, unbreakable mirrors, large shapes, and accurate optical diagrams. Avoid lasers, flames, direct Sun experiments, glass hazards, strobe effects, or colour-only instructions.
Words to notice together
LIGHTSOURCEREFLECTABSORBTRANSMITREFRACTSCATTERCOLOUR
Make it real
Pause, point, name what you notice, and connect the idea to something familiar in your child's day. Repetition, a calm voice, shared attention and dependable care matter more than finishing quickly.