I love how excited kids get about science experiments. There’s just something about the word “experiment” that gets them all worked up and ready to learn. Something that makes Mom excited is an experiment that can thrown together easily at home – low prep and less mess!
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The experiment I’m sharing with you today is about light.
We will be looking at key words like “opaque” and “transparent” as we see how light travels through objects. The question we want to answer is, “Which objects allow light to pass through?”
Supplies
You can find everything around your house. First you’ll need a pencil and recording chart. (Get a free recording chart for this experiment at the end of this post.) Next, grab a flashlight. Finally, you’ll need to find a variety of materials in your home. Be sure to find some that you think may let light shine through and others that won’t. For example, I might choose wax paper, foil, cardboard, printer paper, and a t-shirt. Having a good variety makes the results a little more interesting!
Ask questions and make predictions.
Get those brain juices flowing. Encourage your kids to wonder. Ask about the different materials. Tell them the question you want to answer and see if they can start sharing what they think may happen.
Record your predictions in your chart. Your child can examine each item and state whether or not light will shine through it. Talk about the following key words:
- transparent: able to be seen through
- opaque: not letting light through
Find a dark space in your home to complete the experiment.
This makes it really fun! When we completed our experiment we sat in the closet under our stairs. Find a place in your home that works for you. Just make sure there’s enough room for everyone to participate.
Choose your first item and have your child put the flash light up to it. Can you see the light on the other side? Does the light shine through? Record your results in the chart.
Test each item and record what happens.
Analyze the results.
Now that you’ve tested all of the materials, compare your results to your predictions. Which materials let light pass through? Were your predictions correct? You can also sort your materials into two piles: transparent and opaque.
Here are some questions to consider. Which objects allowed light to pass through? Which items are opaque? What other items would be fun to test? Can you think of other transparent materials?
Take it further!
Books, books, and more books! There is so much to learn from reading books. Before you complete the experiment, check out a few books about light from your local library. This will provide even more learning opportunities!
Remember it doesn’t always have to be nonfiction books. Find a fun story about flashlights or seeing in the dark. Maybe you can even look into other sources of light – lighthouses, candles, etc.
Add a family devotion to your lesson. There are so many verses about light in the bible. Check out the following link and pick your favorite. (Website – Bible Verses About Light) Talk about it with your kids and pray about what you’ve learned. We paired our lesson with a devotion from Indescribable by Louis Giglio. (See title image)
Print out directions and recording chart free
Want a free printout of the instructions and recording chart? Submit your email below and I’ll send it your way!
