Exploring Light and Shadows

Year 5 Science

Name:

Date:

Class:

A torch shining light and creating a shadow

🎯 WALT & Success Criteria

We Are Learning To (WALT): Understand the basic properties of light — how light helps us see, how shadows are formed, and that light travels in straight lines.

I can...

Explain why we need light to see things.

Describe how shadows are formed and how their size changes.

Show that light travels in straight lines.

Communicate my findings using drawings or simple explanations.

💡 Tick each box when you feel confident with that skill!

☀️ Part 1: Understanding Light

Read each question carefully. Circle the best answer.

1. Why do we need light to see objects?

Light makes things heavier.

Light bounces off objects and travels to our eyes so we can see them.

Light makes objects change colour.

Light slows down when it hits objects.

2. What is darkness?

A type of colour.

Very cold air.

The absence (lack) of light.

Light that moves very slowly.

3. How does light travel?

In zigzag lines.

In circles.

In straight lines.

In wavy curves.

4. Which of these are light sources? (Tick ALL that apply.)

The Sun

A torch

A rock

A classroom light

A mirror

5. Fill in the missing words using the word bank below.

Word Bank: straight | opaque | shadow | light | transparent

a) We need _____________ to be able to see things around us.

b) Light travels in _____________ lines.

c) A _____________ forms when an object blocks light.

d) An _____________ object blocks light and you cannot see through it.

e) A _____________ object lets light pass straight through it.

🔦 Part 2: Shadow Investigation

Use your observations from the shadow activity to answer these questions.

6. Draw what you observed! Show a light source, an object, and the shadow it creates. Label your drawing with: light source, object, shadow, light rays.

7. What happened to the shadow when the object was moved closer to the light source?

The shadow got smaller.

The shadow got bigger.

The shadow disappeared.

The shadow stayed the same size.

8. Describe in your own words: what must happen for a shadow to form? Use the words light, object, and blocked in your answer.

9. What shape was the shadow compared to the object that made it? What does this tell us about how light travels?

⭐ Part 3: Extension — Challenge Questions

Have a go at these if you're feeling confident! These questions will stretch your thinking.

10. Predict: If you moved a torch from directly above an object to the side at a low angle, what do you think would happen to the shadow's length? Explain your prediction.

11. Think about shadows outside during the day. Why are shadows longer in the morning and afternoon but shorter at midday? Draw a simple diagram below to help explain your answer.

12. Real-world connection: Sunscreen protects our skin from the Sun's light rays. Using what you know about light and opaque materials, explain how sunscreen might work like an "opaque" layer.