This unit covers all of the Year 5 Physical Sciences material for the Australian National Curriculum. Throughout these lessons, students learn how light travels, is sensed, reflects, refracts or is absorbed and how it forms shadows.

8 x 1 hour lessons
Cross curriculum
18x resources/worksheets
Download now

Australian Curriculum - (QLD/SA/WA/NT/TAS/ACT)

AC9S5U03

Identify sources of light, recognise that light travels in a straight path and describe how shadows are formed and light can be reflected and refracted


AC9S5H01

Examine why advances in science are often the result of collaboration or build on the work of others


AC9S5H02

Investigate how scientific knowledge is used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions


AC9S5I01

Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions


AC9S5I02

Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions, including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct investigations on Country/Place


AC9S5I03

Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate


AC9S5I04

Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships


AC9S5I05

Compare methods and findings with those of others, recognise possible sources of error, pose questions for further investigation and select evidence to draw reasoned conclusions


AC9S5I06

Write and create texts to communicate ideas and findings for specific purposes and audiences, including selection of language features, using digital tools as appropriate


ACSSU080

Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted


ACSHE081

Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and reflects historical and cultural contributions


ACSHE083

Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions


ACSIS231

With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific investigations


ACSIS086

Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions and solve problems using equipment and materials safely and identifying potential risks


ACSIS087

Decide variables to be changed and measured in fair tests, and observe measure and record data with accuracy using digital technologies as appropriate


ACSIS090

Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data using digital technologies as appropriate


ACSIS218

Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations


ACSIS091

Reflect on and suggest improvements to scientific investigations


ACSIS093

Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts


NSW

ST2-1WS-S

Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations


ST2-2DP-T

Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity


ST2-8PW-ST

Describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat


ST2-9PW-ST

Describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an object’s motion


ST3-1WS-S

Plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions


ST3-2DP-T

Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity


ST3-4LW-S

Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things


ST3-5LW-T

Explains how food and fibre are produced sustainably in managed environments for health and nutrition


ST3-6MW-S

Explains the effect of heat on the properties and behaviour of materials


ST3-7MW-T

Explains how the properties of materials determines their use for a range of purposes


ST3-8PW-ST

Explains how energy is transformed from one form to another


ST3-9PW-ST

Investigates the effects of increasing or decreasing the strength of a specific contact or non-contact force


ST3-3DP-T

Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions


ST3-11DI-T

Explains how digital systems represent data, connect together to form networks and transmit data


ST3-10ES-S

Explains regular events in the solar system and geological events on the Earth’s surface


VIC

VCSSU080

Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted


VCSSU073

Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to inform personal and community decisions and to solve problems that directly affect people’s lives


VCSIS082

With guidance, pose questions to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be based on previous experiences or general rules


VCSIS083

With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks


VCSIS084

Decide which variables should be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests and accurately observe, measure and record data


VCSIS085

Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to record, represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data


VCSIS086

Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations


VCSIS087

Suggest improvements to the methods used to investigate a question or solve a problem


VCSIS088

Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships


Learning Intention
  • We are learning to understand light sources and that light from a source travels in a straight path, forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted.
  • We are learning to understand that light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted.
Linked Resources & Activities