5th Grade Astronomy Unit: Lesson 4

5^th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint

Light

Lesson 4: DSM Lenses and Mirrors Activity 1 (Mirrors and Reflection)

Pacing Suggestions: 1 day

Teacher Resources:
Tips	Mirrors and Reflection Adobe® Reader® (PDF) Mirrors and Reflection (Microsoft Word Format)

Essential & Unit Questions* ¹

Benchmarks ²

Formative and Summative Assessments ³

Using Assessments to Monitor Student Learning

In what direction does light travel? What causes the direction to change?

When light interacts (hits) an object, what are the different ways it behaves?

4F(3-5)#3: Light travels and tends to maintain its direction of motion until it interacts with an object or material. Light can be absorbed, redirected, bounced back, or allowed to pass through.

Class discussion of activity and Question 7 on revised Mirrors & Reflection worksheet (Do not use sheet included in Teacher's Guide. See "Teacher Resources" on electronic curriculum for a copy of revised sheet.)

Do the students understand that the light is not traveling in a straight line because it has been redirected by the mirror?
When students answer Question 7 on the revised Mirrors & Reflection worksheet, are they able to communicate that the light travels in a straight line until in interacts/hits the mirror--then it changes direction and travels in a straight line?

* Essential/Unit questions are major questions driving the unit. They are directly aligned with the benchmarks. No single lesson addresses each question in its entirety. By the end of the unit, students should be able to answer these core questions.

1. For conceptual benchmarks.
2. Bolded sections indicate portion of benchmark addressed
3. Unless noted as a Summative Assessment, the assessments are formative and should be used to guide teaching and learning.

5th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint

5^th Grade Astronomy Unit Blueprint