Light & seeing in the dark · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Light lets us see

Science · Waves, Light & Sound · ages 6-8
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. In total darkness, you can see ordinary toys if you look hard enough.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. What do you need in order to see?

    • Only eyes that look hard
    • Light reaching your eyes
    • Only a brightly coloured toy

  3. Which of these makes its own light?

    • A switched-on torch
    • A smooth wooden chair
    • A brightly painted book

  4. Which pair contains two things that make light?

    • The Sun and a switched-on lamp
    • The Sun and a clean mirror
    • A lit lamp and a wooden toy box

  5. Zara switches on a lamp in a totally dark room. It lights the toys on the floor. Why can she now see them?

    • They begin making their own light like little lamps
    • They vanish from the floor when the lamp is lit
    • Light reflects off them into her eyes

  6. A switched-on torch inside a closed box can light the inside, even if no light enters from outside.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. The Moon looks bright at night. Does it make the visible light we see from it?

    • No, there is never any light on its surface
    • Yes, it makes its own light just like the Sun
    • No, its surface reflects light from the Sun

  8. Tom says ordinary bright red paint lets him see his ball in total darkness. Does the paint make that possible?

    • Yes, any bright red paint makes its own light like a lamp
    • No, ordinary red paint needs light to be seen
    • Yes, his eyes can shine their own red light onto the ball
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Light lets us see W1-mt_4i-FKXDDXh-s1

  1. False · Looking harder does not make light. With no light to reflect from the toys into your eyes, you cannot see them.
  2. Light reaching your eyes · Seeing needs light reaching your eyes. Looking hard or using bright paint does not replace light.
  3. A switched-on torch · A switched-on torch makes light. The ordinary chair and book reflect light from a source.
  4. The Sun and a switched-on lamp · The Sun and switched-on lamp each make light. A mirror and ordinary wooden toy box reflect light instead.
  5. Light reflects off them into her eyes · The lamp supplies light. Some light reflects off the toys and enters Zara's eyes, making the toys visible.
  6. True · The torch is a light source inside the box. Light does not have to enter from outside when a source is already inside.
  7. No, its surface reflects light from the Sun · The Moon is lit by the Sun. We see sunlight reflected from the Moon's surface.
  8. No, ordinary red paint needs light to be seen · Ordinary bright paint does not make light. Without light reflecting from the ball into his eyes, Tom cannot see it.
Worksheet · LightMySky