Our sources of light

Get your students thinking and moving with two games designed to illuminate the difference between natural and artificial light.

  • Grade 1
  • 2 activities
  • 40 mins
Lesson Image

Big idea

Grade 1 Science

Light and sound can be produced and their properties can be changed. 

Grade 1 Physical and Health Education

Daily physical activity helps us develop movement skills and physical literacy, and is an important part of healthy living.


Learning objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of light, and the difference between natural and artificial light
  • Share ideas and work cooperatively in a group activity 
  • Develop and demonstrate participation and respectful behaviour during physical activities


Activities

BC curriculum fit

Grade 1 Science

Big idea

  • Light and sound can be produced and their properties can be changed

Content

  • Natural and artificial sources of light and sound

Curricular competencies

Questioning and predicting
  • Demonstrate curiosity and a sense of wonder about the world
Processing and analyzing data and information
  • Sort and classify data and information using drawings
Evaluating
  • Consider some environmental consequences of their actions
Communicating
  • Communicate observations and ideas using oral or written language, drawing, or role-play


Grade 1 Physical and Health Education

Big idea

  • Daily physical activity helps us develop movement skills and physical literacy, and is an important part of healthy living

Content

  • How to participate in different types of physical activities, including individual and dual activities, rhythmic activities, and games

Curricular competencies

Physical literacy 
  • Develop and demonstrate a variety of fundamental movement skills in a variety of physical activities and environments
Social and community health
  • Develop and demonstrate respectful behaviour when participating in activities with others

Background info

Natural light

Natural light can benefit our health and save energy:

  1. Helps improve mental health
  2. Improves sleep
  3. Increases ability to concentrate and learn
  4. Helps our bodies to produce vitamin D which help us build and maintain teeth and bones and absorb calcium
  5. Saves energy as we can turn off the artificial lighting

Tips to increase natural light and conserve energy

  • Keep blinds or curtains open to let in the natural light
  • Decorate with bright reflective colours and/or use mirrors
  • Get outside and exercise

Assessments

The activities in this lesson provide an opportunity to assess individual students and groups on their ability to:

  • Share ideas and listen to each other while sorting light sources
  • Understand the difference between natural and artificial light 
  • Make the connection that using natural light instead of artificial light conserves energy
  • Demonstrate participation and respectable behaviour during the physical activity

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