TheLearnDen

Year 6 · Science

Light Travels In Straight Lines

Year 6 learners practise light travelling in straight lines and refraction.

The activities include Identify Light Sources, Investigate the Refraction of Light and the Visible Spectrum, Investigate the Visible Spectrum, and related practice. The checked support below includes video, lesson, teaching, interactive. Open a resource in its provider's website and choose the format that best helps the learner explain the idea independently.

Activities covered

  • Identify Light Sources
  • Investigate the Refraction of Light and the Visible Spectrum
  • Investigate the Visible Spectrum
  • Look at How Light is Reflected off Mirrors
  • Look at the Refraction of Light and the Visible Spectrum
  • Predict How Light Will Reflect
  • Understand How Light is Reflected
  • Understand Reflective Surfaces and the Law of Reflection
  • Understand Refraction
  • Understand Refraction and the Visible Spectrum
  • Understand the Effect of Light Travelling in Straight Lines
  • Understand the Law of Reflection
  • Understand the Properties of Light
  • Understand What Makes a Good Reflective Surface

Checked learning resources

  • Light Sources and Light Reflectors

    Oak National Academy · Video · Opens on the provider website

    Year 6 lesson video distinguishing light sources from reflectors and comparing how materials reflect light. The Year 6 lesson helps pupils identify which materials make effective reflectors and why.

  • Refraction of Light

    BBC Bitesize Science · Video · Opens on the provider website

    BBC Bitesize demonstration showing how light changes direction when it passes between materials, using a jug practical to make refraction visible. This directly demonstrates the refraction investigation.

  • Newton's Light Spectrum Experiment

    BBC Earth Science · Video · Opens on the provider website

    Short BBC experiment video showing a prism separating white light into the colours of the visible spectrum and connecting the result to Newton. This directly shows white light splitting into the visible spectrum through

  • Measuring Reflected Light: Do and Review

    Oak National Academy · Video · Opens on the provider website

    Year 6 investigation video measuring angles of incidence and reflection and using results to explain and predict reflected light paths. The Year 6 investigation directly supports predicting reflected rays from measured i

  • Changing the direction of light

    Oak National Academy · Video · Opens on the provider website

    Year 6 science lesson, video, worksheet and quizzes on mirrors, reflected rays and changing the direction of straight-line light paths.

  • How light travels

    Oak National Academy · Video · Opens on the provider website

    Year 6 science lesson, video, worksheet and quizzes explaining and predicting that light travels in straight lines.

  • Science: Light: Seeing Colours Year 6 Lesson 5

    Twinkl · Lesson · Account may be required

    Year 6 lesson and practical investigation worksheets using a prism to refract and disperse white light into the visible spectrum and make predictions about colours and rainbows.

  • Science: Light: Refraction Year 6 Lesson 3

    Twinkl · Lesson · Account may be required

    Year 6 lesson plan, presentation and practical investigation sheets for predicting and observing refraction as light changes direction through different materials.