Prisms One off lesson

This science lesson for Upper Key Stage 2 focuses on exploring how a prism changes a ray of light to reveal the visible spectrum. Pupils investigate the concept that white light is made up of different colours and learn how refraction separates these colours when light passes through a prism.

Learning Objective:
To understand how a prism changes a ray of light to show the spectrum.

Lesson Approach:
Begins with a short discussion and visual demonstration of light sources and white light.

Introduces key scientific vocabulary such as refraction, spectrum, and wavelength.

Practical activity where pupils observe light passing through a prism and record the colours produced.

Guided questioning to develop understanding of how and why light bends at different angles inside the prism.

Outcomes:
By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

Explain that white light is made up of multiple colours.

Describe how refraction in a prism separates light into the spectrum.

Use accurate scientific language to explain their observations.