Unit Plan 7 (Grade 1 Science): Materials That Change Light

Focus: Plan and conduct investigations to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light, comparing transparent, translucent, opaque, and reflective materials.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Science (Physical Science • Light • Investigation Skills)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore how different materials change what happens to light. Using flashlights, classroom objects, and simple “light tests,” students investigate what it means for a material to be transparent (light passes through), translucent (some light passes through), opaque (light is blocked), or reflective (light bounces off).

Students practice making careful observations, recording results, and repeating tests so results are trustworthy. The unit ends with a “Light Materials Investigation Report” where students classify materials and explain what each material does to a beam of light using evidence.

Essential Questions

• What happens when different materials are placed in the path of a beam of light?
• How are transparent, translucent, opaque, and reflective materials different?
• How can we plan a fair investigation and use observations as evidence?
• How do our results help us make a claim about how a material affects light?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Plan and conduct a simple investigation to test how different materials affect a beam of light (1-PS4-3).
2. Observe and describe what happens when light hits different materials (passes through, partially passes through, blocks, reflects).
3. Sort and classify tested materials as transparent, translucent, opaque, or reflective using evidence from investigations.
4. Record observations in a simple table (material → what happened to the light) and identify patterns.
5. Create a short evidence-based explanation (drawing + sentence) describing how at least two materials change a beam of light.

Standards Alignment — Grade 1 (NGSS-Aligned)

• 1-PS4-3 — Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.
  • Example: Shine a flashlight through or onto different materials (clear plastic, wax paper, cardboard, foil) and record whether light passes, dims, stops, or reflects.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can test what happens when I put different materials in a beam of light.
• I can sort materials as transparent, translucent, opaque, or reflective.
• I can record what I observe with pictures, labels, and simple words.
• I can use my observations as evidence to explain my thinking.
• I can share a clear claim about how a material changes light.