Year 3 Light Worksheet - Intermediate

Year 3 Light worksheet for Year 3 (Key Stage 2 / Year 3-6 (Ages 7-11)). Intermediate level science practice, aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Print-ready with answer key included.

Science•Key Stage 2 / Year 3-6 (Ages 7-11)•Lightintermediate

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Year 3 Light: Seeing, Reflecting and Shadows

Key Stage 2 • Year 3 • Intermediate

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Instructions: Read each question carefully and use the information given to explain your thinking. Write your answers in the boxes. Remember: we need light to see, and shadows form when an object blocks light.

Why Do We Need Light?

Choose the best answer for each question. Think about how light helps us see objects.

1. Why can you see a book in a lit room?

2. What would happen if you switched off the light in a completely dark room?

3. Which object is a light source?

4. Why can you see the Moon at night?

Reflection Detectives

Answer using what you know about reflection. A reflection happens when light bounces off a surface.

1. What happens to light when it reflects from a mirror?

2. Which surface is most likely to give a clear reflection?

3. A child shines a torch towards a mirror. What can the mirror do to the light?

4. Name one everyday object, other than a mirror, that has a shiny surface and can reflect light.

Stay Safe in Sunlight

Read each situation and choose the safest or most accurate answer. Sunlight is useful, but looking directly at the Sun can harm your eyes.

1. Which is the safest way to protect your eyes on a very sunny day?

2. Why should you never look directly at the Sun?

3. Which item can help protect your skin from strong sunlight?

4. You are playing outside on a sunny day. Name one sensible action to help protect yourself from the Sun.

How Shadows Form

Use the words in the word bank to complete the sentences. Each word is used once.

Word bank: light, blocks, shadow, screen

1. A shadow forms when an object ___ the path of light.

2. Light travels from a light source towards an object and then towards a ___.

3. The dark shape made when light is blocked is called a ___.

4. We need a source of ___ for an object to cast a shadow.

Changing Shadows

Use the information in the table to answer the questions. The same toy was placed the same distance from a screen; the torch position was changed.

Test	Torch position	Shadow size
1	Low and near the toy	Large
2	High and near the toy	Medium
3	Low and far from the toy	Small
4	High and far from the toy	Small

1. Which test made the largest shadow?

2. In which two tests was the torch far from the toy?

3. What happened to the shadow size when the torch was high and near, rather than low and near?

4. Give one change to the torch position that could make a toy's shadow change size.

Explain the Light Path

Write a short explanation for each question. Use the key ideas that light travels in straight lines, objects can block light, and shiny surfaces reflect light.

1. A torch shines towards a book. Explain why a shadow can appear behind the book.

2. A mirror is placed in the torch beam. Explain what happens to some of the light.

3. The Sun is low in the sky in the morning and higher later in the day. Explain why the length of a tree's shadow can change.

4. A pupil says, “I can see a toy in a dark cupboard because my eyes make light.” Explain why this idea is incorrect.

Answer Key

Activity 1: 1. Light from the book enters your eyes ; 2. You would see objects less clearly ; 3. Torch ; 4. It reflects light from the Sun

Activity 2: 1. It bounces off the mirror ; 2. Shiny mirror ; 3. The mirror reflects (bounces) the light in a different direction ; 4. Accept a shiny spoon, polished metal, or another suitable shiny object

Activity 3: 1. Wear sunglasses ; 2. It can harm your eyes ; 3. Sun cream ; 4. Accept wear a hat, sunglasses or sun cream; seek shade; cover skin

Activity 4: blocks ; screen ; shadow ; light

Activity 5: 1. Test 1 ; 2. Tests 3 and 4 ; 3. The shadow changed from large to medium ; 4. Accept moving the torch nearer to or farther from the toy, or changing its height/angle

Activity 6: 1. Light travels towards the book in straight lines; the book blocks some light, so a shadow forms behind it. 2. Some light bounces off the mirror and travels in a different direction. 3. The Sun's position changes the direction the light reaches the tree, so the shadow's length changes. 4. Eyes do not make the light needed to see; light must reach the toy and reflect into the pupil's eyes.