What Do You See?
- Conduct an experiment that shows that light is needed to see objects.
- Understand the difference between an illuminated and a luminous object.
- Explain, with evidence, that some objects can be seen at night and some cannot.
![]() OverviewHuman vision is dependent on light. We can only see if the light-sensitive cells on our retina at the back of our eyes get triggered by light entering the eye. As a result, we can only see objects that either are illuminated and reflect light back into our eyes, or objects that emit light. Any object that is in complete darkness is not visible to the human eye. In this lesson plan, students will place different objects inside a box and view them under different light conditions. By doing so, students will realize that our ability to see an object clearly is light-dependent. The more light that is present, the more details of an object can be seen. Remote learning: This lesson plan can be conducted remotely. The Engage section of the lesson can be done over a video call, then students can work individually and independently during the Explore section, using the student worksheet as guide. A set of materials can be prepared in advance or students can use materials found around the house. And adult will be needed to assist with the preparation of the box. End the lesson with discussion over a video call during the Reflect section. NGSS AlignmentThis lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:
Materials![]() For each student group of 3:
For the teacher:
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Grade Range
1st
Group Size
3 students
Active Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Area of Science
Physics
Key Concepts
vision, light
Credits
Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies
Learning Objectives
Teacher Tool Box
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