LO 4: Objects that do not allow light to pass through them are said to be 'opaque'

Idea Use the datalogger light sensor to investigate material samples. Which would make the best 'black-out' curtains? Are any truly opaque? Create a bar graph using 'snapshot' and add labels to explain findings [Datalogging folder, P4-7 Light section] or use this link: P4-7 Light Datalogging Teachers' Notes

LO 5: Opaque objects cast shadows

Shadows Excellent interactive 'module' which explains what we mean when we say an object is opaque, transparent and translucent

BBC Science Clips - Light and Shadows Create shadows, move/dim the light and see what happens, create sun and moon shadows. Printable worksheet available (Click on Worksheet)

LO 6: Shiny surfaces reflect light i.e. light bounces off them

Reflection - Seeing Objects Excellent interactive 'module' about how we see objects and why some objects reflect more light than others

LO 7: Mirrors reflect light

Reflection: Mirrors Excellent interactive 'module' which shows that light rays hitting a mirror are reflected at equal angles

Reflection Activities Good list of activities to show reflection

Idea Use the Bouncing Back activity from the site above. Shine a torch through a tube at an angle to a mirror. Can you position a second tube at just the right angle to reflect most light back? Test by holding the datalogger light sensor at the end of the second tube. (Read the digital display or use the light meter on the software) Change the angle of the second tube. What happens to the light reading from the datalogger?

Idea Use the digital camera to photograph the Bouncing Back experiment from above (the relative angles of the 2 tubes will be clearly seen), insert the picture into a document and then write about it.

BBC Science Clips - How We See Things Drag different angled mirrors into the path of the light. Can you direct the light beam to the right place? Printable worksheet available (Click on Worksheet)

LO 8: Light travels in straight lines

Light Sources and Light Rays Excellent interactive 'module' which lets you decide which objects are light sources and also reinforces the idea of light travelling in a straight line

LO 9: Lenses bend light rays

Idea Bending light with water and lenses: Take photos with the digital camera to use as illustrations in an experiment write-up. Use the Digital Blue movie camera to take a short film of what happens to the pathway of a light ray when a convex lens is put in front of it, or simply use the projected image as a way of letting the whole class see the experiment clearly.

LO 11: Sound is produced by vibrations

Sources of Sound Excellent interactive 'module' that explains how vibrations produce sounds and how the vibrations need a medium (solid, liquid or gas) in order to travel to our ears

Sound wave animation How sound travels through the air

BBC Science and Nature Hearing animation - shows how the ear drum vibrates when sounds enter the ear

Planet Science Sound Activities A selection of excellent practical activities to try out

Idea String Telephone: Use the datalogger sound sensor to prove that sound travels better through the solid string than through the air. [Datalogging folder, P4-7 Sound section, p1-3] or use this link: P4-7 Sound Datalogging Teachers' Notes, p1-3

LO 12-14: Pitch is a measure of the type of sound, volume is a measure of the loudness of sound, pitch and volume are independent of each other.

Loudness Excellent interactive 'module' that explains about volume and sound waves and warns of the dangers of loud sounds

BBC Science Clips - Changing Sounds What happens to pitch when you shorten a guitar string or add water to a bottle? Can you sort sounds by pitch and volume? Printable worksheet available (Click on Worksheet)

Idea Use the datalogger to show that sounds of the same pitch can be very loud or very quiet (in other words, volume and pitch do not depend on each other) [Datalogging folder, P4-7 Sound section, p4-6] or use this link: P4-7 Sound Datalogging Teachers' Notes, p4-6
Note: If you do not have access to pitched instruments, use the guitar sounds from the 'BBC Science Clips - Changing Sounds' activity (above) for this experiment.