Light Energy 5E NGSS Science Unit Plan

The Light 5E Science Unit Plan is an investigative, inquiry-based module. It teaches students how light passing through the eye and reflecting off objects enables the sense of sight. Focused on the 5E teaching technique (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate), the unit is structured in three parts, complete with additional resources.

KEY CONCEPTS IN THIS 5E WAVES UNIT INCLUDE

• How light travels
• Light refraction and reflection
• Light as a type of energy that is perceived by the brain
• Properties of light

FREE UPGRADE TO GOOGLE DIGITAL COMPONENTS:

• Google Slides Teacher Presentation that supports the student resources
• Google Slides Student Resources for a paperless option
• Google Form Exit Cards to monitor student understanding

Included in this Waves Science Resource

• Teacher Notes that provide an overview of the resource and explanation of the NGSS standard for Light 4-PS4-2
• Common Misconceptions about Light
• Teaching Timeline available with four different options, including a correlation with the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Vocabulary Cards to reinforce key terms throughout the unit. These are similar vocabulary cards available in the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Big Idea Posters that illustrate the main concepts students will learn
• Exit Tickets in three formats: short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple choice
• Google Slides Teacher Presentation that supports the student resources
• Google Slides Student Resources for a paperless option
• Google Form Exit Cards

What is the 5E Instructional Model?

The 5E Model is student-led, with the teacher acting mainly as the facilitator. Through open-ended questions, real-life experiences, guided investigations, and research, the students gain a deep understanding of the scientific topics that are covered in the lessons. Each stage of the model serves as a foundation to the next, creating a coherent model that frames lessons, activities, and units.

Find out more about the 5E Unit Plans in this blog post.

Objectives and Timeline for Each Section of the 5E Waves Unit

ENGAGE

Objectives:

• Students will access their prior knowledge about light, how light travels, and the factors that affect light in different ways.
• Student interest in light will be elicited.
• The teacher will be able to identify student misconceptions about light.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Is This?):  10 minutes
• Part 2 (My Experiences):  15 minutes
• Part 3 (Introducing):  15 minutes

EXPLORE

Objectives:

• Students will work together to investigate light.  They will do this by observing what happens when light is reflected and refracted.
• Students will gather general information about light.
• Students will begin to think about the factors that affect light.
• Students will analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that light is a type of energy.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Check It Out):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (Read This): 15 minutes
• Part 3 (You Try It):  15 minutes

EXPLAIN

Objectives:

• Students will work collaboratively to observe the properties of light.
• Students will listen to the teacher’s explanation about light.
• Students will use the new information to revise their explanations about light energy, how it is perceived by the brain, and the factors that affect how light travels.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Does It Mean?):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (What Is Light?):  20 minutes
• Part 3 (Putting It All Together):  20 minutes

EXTEND

Objectives:

• Students will apply what they have learned about light to a new situation.
• Students will deepen their understanding of light, gaining a more generalized knowledge of this specific scientific concept.
• The teacher will resolve all persisting student misconceptions about light.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Where Is the Light?):  20 minutes
• Part 2 (Show What You Know): 20 minutes
• Part 3 (Have Fun With It):  20 minutes

EVALUATE

Objectives:

• Students will evaluate their own understanding of light.
• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and vocabulary.
• The teacher will encourage students to ask questions that could lead to future investigations.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What I Know):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (Showing Light): 30 minutes
• Part 3 (Going Forward): 15 minutes