Science Journal:

Grade 4
Light Unit

Name: _____________________________
Natural Vs. Artificial Light
Date: ____________________________
Light that occurs in nature is natural light. Light that is created by
people, and does not occur naturally is artificial light.

Artificial Light Natural Light

In the Chart are objects of sources of light. Identify them as either Natural or
Artifical sources of light and whether they give off heat or produce no heat at
all.
Object Natural or Artificial? Gives off heat or
produces no heat?

Light bulb

Candle

Sun

Lamp

Fireflies

Flashlight
Emitting vs. Reflecting Light
Date: _______________________________
Most things do not actually emit their own light but we see them because light
bounces off them. They reflect light and some objects reflect light better than
others.
Directions: Identify whether each object is a ‘source of light’ or if it is a
‘reflection of light’. Write ‘source of light’ or ‘reflection of light’ in the box
next to each object.
Objects: Source of light or Reflection of light?:
Cat’s eyes
Moon
Laser
Stars
Sun
Forest fire
Match flame
Candle
Bicycle reflector
Light bulb
firefly

Directions: Identify each object as a light source or a reflector. Write ‘light

source’ or ‘reflector’ in the box.
Human-Made Sources of Light
Date: __________________________

Different types of Human-made sources of light were designed to solve

problems within our daily lives. We use these sources of light at school,
home and in the community daily.

Directions: In the chart below, brainstorm types of lights that are

used in your school, home and community. Write or draw it down in
the source of light column and then explain the problem that that
light solved in the next column. In the last column explain how you
can conserve this light by its length of use or by using other types of
sources of light.
Source of Light Problem it solved How to conserve this
energy
Negative Effects of Exposure to Light Experiment
Date:_________________________

Purpose: Students will experiment to see the effects of sun exposure and
what it can do to human skin and eyes.
Materials: 4 Styrofoam plates, Hand full of UV beads, 3 different types
of sunscreen (SPF 15, 30 and 45).
*Instructions posted on the board*

Predict:
(What do you think
is going to happen?)

Observe:
(What do you see
happening during
the experiment?
Draw what is
happening if you
can.)

Explain:
(What happened and
why do you think it
happened? Any
theories?)
 Light Dispersion Experiment
Date:__________________________

Purpose: To show the separation of white light

Materials: Prism, screen or wall, flashlight, bristol board or heavy paper
Predict:
(What do
you think is
going to
happen?)

Observe: 1. 2.
(What do
you see
happening
during the
experiment?)

Explain:
(What
happened
and why do
you think it
happened?
Any
theories?)

Extension: Using your knowledge from this experiment and ‘dispersion’, explain
how rainbows are formed and appear in the sky.

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Colour Wheels Experiment
Date: ___________________________
Purpose: To reinforce the concept that white light is made of colours.
Materials: 7 crayons: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (blue plus
purple), and violet (purple); scissors; 24” of strong, thin string;
sharpened pencil

Predict:
(What do you
think is going to
happen?)

Observe:
(What do you
see happening
during the
experiment?
Draw what is
happening if
you can.)

Explain:
(What happened
and why do you
think it
happened? Any
theories?)
 Spinning White Light
Materials: 7 crayons: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (blue plus purple), and violet
(purple); scissors; 24” of strong, thin string; sharpened pencil
Steps:
1. Colour each section of the wheel using the colours shown.
2. Cut out the wheel. Using a pencil, carefully poke two small holes in the center of the
wheel as shown (Figure 1).
3. Thread the string through the holes and tie the ends together. Center the circle on the
string (Figure 2).
4. Follow your teacher’s directions to make the spinner spin properly (Figure 3).
Light Interaction with Objects Experiment
Date: __________________________
Purpose: To observe the effect of a light on different types of materials.
Materials: Clear glass or transparent plastic wrap; waxed paper;
cardboard, flashlight

Transparent Object-Clear Glass or plastic wrap

Prediction:

Observations: Diagram of observation:

Explanation: My definition of Transparent from observation is...

 Translucent Object- Waxed paper
Prediction:

Observation: Diagram of Observation:

Explanation: My definition of Translucent from observation is...

 Opaque Object- Cardboard
Prediction:

Observations: Diagram of Observations:

Explanation: My definition of Opaque from observation is...

Transparent, Translucent and Opaque Classification
Date: ____________________________
Purpose: To reinforce the concepts of transparent, translucent and
Opaque objects.
Materials: flashlights; writing paper; newspaper; plastic wrap; tin can;
plain glass edged with tape; frosted glass edged with tape; magnifying
glass; sunglasses; latex glove; construction paper; tissue paper;
aluminum foil; white plastic lid; a leaf, etc.

Classify each object as transparent, translucent, or opaque

Transparent Translucent Opaque
(can see through (can see through but (cannot see through at
clearly) not clearly) all)
Changes is Shadows Experiment
Date: __________________________

Purpose: To show the changes in a shadow’s shape, size and location.

Materials: Flashlight; puppet

Predict:
(What do you think is
going to happen?)

Observe: 1. When the puppet is in the middle of light source

(What do you see
happening during the
experiment? Draw a
picture for each
situation.)

2. When puppet is on the left of light source

3. When puppet is on the right of light source

4. When puppet is closer to the light source

 5. When puppet is farther from the light source

Explain:
(What happened and
why do you think it
happened? Any
theories?)

Extension: Using your knowledge from this experiment with shadows,

draw where the shadow of the house would be at each time of the day.
The Path of Light Experiment
Date: _________________________

Purpose: To show how light travels.

Materials: two pieces of bristol board; flashlight; modeling clay;
scissors; mirrors

Predict:
(What do you
think is going to
happen?)

Observe: 1. Path of light with bristol boards

(What do you see
happening during
the experiment?
Draw a picture
for each
situation.)

2. Path of light when shone into a mirror

Explain:
(What happened
and why do you
think it
happened? Any
theories?)
Reflective Properties of Different Shapes and Textures Experiment
Date: _________________________

Purpose: To observe the reflective properties of different shapes and

textures.
Materials: Flashlight; mirror; flat foil; crumpled foil; white paper;
coloured paper; spoon

Predict:
(What do you
think is going to
happen?)

Observe: 1. Mirror
(What do you
see happening
during the
experiment?
Draw a picture
for each
situation.) 2. Flat foil

3. Crumpled foil

4. White paper
 5. Coloured paper

6. spoon

Explain:
(What happened
and why do you
think it
happened? Any
theories?)
Refractive properties of materials and shapes Experiment
Date: __________________________

Purpose: To observe the refractive properties of materials and shapes

Materials: Drinking glass; ruler; pencil; prism; flashlight; sheet with
print on it; jar; water pitcher (or anything that holds enough water);
water dropper; overhead transparency; water

Predict: Station #1:

(What do you think
is going to
happen?)
Observe:
(What do you see
happening during
the experiment?
Draw a picture for
each situation.)

Predict: Station #2:

(What do you think
is going to
happen?)
Observe:
(What do you see
happening during
the experiment?
Draw a picture for
each situation.)

Predict: Station #3:

(What do you think
is going to
happen?)
Observe:
(What do you see
happening during
the experiment?
Draw a picture for
each situation.)
Predict: Station #4:
(What do you think
is going to
happen?)
Observe:
(What do you see
happening during
the experiment?
Draw a picture for
each situation.)

Explain:
(What happened
and why do you
think it happened?
Any theories?)

Extension: Using your knowledge from this experiment on refraction, is

there any optical devices that we use today that uses these properties of
refraction?
__________________________________________________________

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Light and Optical Devices
Date: _____________________________

Purpose: To examine and compare how light interacts with different

optical devices.
Materials: Kaleidoscopes; reading glasses; periscopes; magnifying
glasses

Predict:
(What do you
think is going to
happen?)

Object: Observations:

Kaleidoscopes

Reading
glasses

Periscopes

Magnifying
glasses

Explain: What property of light was used in each of the optical devices?
(What happened 1. Kaleidoscopes:
and why do you
think it happened? 2. Reading glasses:
Any theories?)
3. Periscopes:

4. Magnifying glasses:
Creating Optical Devices
Date: ____________________________

Purpose: To create your own optical device that performs a specific

function.
Materials:

The Optical device that I created was: ___________________________

My Drawing of my optical device:

The function that this optical device performs is...

_________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________.

The property of light that it uses is...

__________________________________________________________

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