This Science video introduces teachers to the Year 3 Light unit, which offers a range of practical activities and enquiries that develop pupils’ working scientifically skills while meeting the National Curriculum programme of study. Activities using UV-reactive beads or stickers help children understand the invisible effects of the sun and explore transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. Applying sunscreen reinforces sun safety, while shadow investigations show that opaque materials create dark shadows, translucent ones lighter shadows, and transparent ones the faintest. Pupils also begin to observe how different surfaces reflect light.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s Science scheme – light. It supports teachers in guiding pupils through shadow investigations, including observing changes in shadows over time and comparing how distance from a light source affects shadow size. Pupils learn that the closer an object is to the light, the larger its shadow, and compare data to identify patterns or anomalies. The unit encourages pupils to back up ideas with evidence, building scientific reasoning skills they will revisit in upper Key Stage 2.

Science, key stage 2, Year 3, Energy: Light and shadows, Lesson 1: Sources of light