Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the concept of transparency and its relevance to Earth Science.
Materials and Prep
- A clear glass of water
- A flashlight
- A small mirror
- A piece of wax paper
- A piece of aluminum foil
- A piece of clear plastic wrap
- A piece of transparent plastic
- A piece of cardboard
- A pencil
- A ruler
- Paper and coloring materials
No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.
Activities
- Activity 1: Exploring Transparency
- Activity 2: Building a Transparent Object
- Activity 3: Creating a Shadow
- Activity 4: Investigating Opaque Objects
Fill the clear glass with water and place it on a table. Shine the flashlight through the water and observe what happens. Try the same experiment with the other materials provided. Record your observations on paper.
Using the transparent plastic, cardboard, pencil, and ruler, create a small rectangular box. Decorate the box as you like. This box represents a transparent object. Explain why it is transparent and how light passes through it.
Hold the small mirror in front of the flashlight, facing the wall. Move the mirror around and observe the changes in the shadow. Explain why the shadow changes when the mirror moves.
Take the piece of aluminum foil and wax paper. Hold them up to a light source and observe what happens. Explain why these materials are opaque and do not allow light to pass through.
Second Grade Talking Points
- "Transparency means being able to see through something."
- "Light can pass through transparent objects, but not through opaque objects."
- "When light passes through a transparent object, it can create interesting effects like bending or changing colors."
- "Water is transparent, which is why we can see through it."
- "Mirrors reflect light, which is why they can create shadows when moved."
- "Opaque objects block light, which is why we cannot see through them."
- "Transparent objects are commonly used in everyday life, such as windows, eyeglasses, and plastic bottles."