Page 32 - FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE; EXPLORING GOD’S UNIVERSE

REFRACTED LIGHT

Truth to Teach (Source)

 Light travels at different speeds through different substances.

 When light slows down it changes direction slightly; this is called refraction.

Way to Work (Means)

Equipment: Glasses of water, straws, concave and convex lenses, binoculars, magnifiers,
spectacles, microscope

1. Review the previous lessons.

2. Give the children the task cards to conduct experiments to find out about refraction.

3. Gather back to share the findings. Talk about refracted light. Explain that light travels at
different speeds through different substances. It travels more slowly through water than
through air. As light slows down it changes direction slightly giving the impression that
objects, for example in water, are bent. This is called refraction.

4. Talk about the lenses. Convex lenses enlarge things, whilst concave lenses make them
smaller. Show various sorts of spectacles/glasses. Discuss:-

• Long-sightedness which means that people cannot focus on things close to them because
the lens forms a clear image behind the retina. It can be corrected with a convex lens.
• Short-sightedness which means that people cannot focus on things in the distance
because the lens focuses the image in front of the retina. It can be corrected by a
concave lens.

5. Notes should be written up with labelled diagrams.

6. End by thanking God for our eyesight and for opticians who diagnose our weaknesses in
vision and prescribe glasses for us.

Learning for Life (Fulfilment)

The children should have learnt about refraction. They should appreciate why we sometimes have
to wear glasses of different kinds.

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