Georgia S4P1.c
The Standard
Plan and carry out an investigation utilizing everyday materials to explore examples of when light is refracted.
Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science · Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the nature of light and how light interacts with objects.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students design and run a simple investigation with cups, water, pencils, or clear plastic. They record where an object appears shifted or bent, then explain that light changed direction between materials.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can write a testable question, choose materials, list repeatable steps, and record observations in labeled drawings or a table. The student uses evidence to explain how light changed direction as it moved from air into water or plastic.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may call any change in light reflection, or say the pencil itself bends in water. They may also think refraction happens whenever light hits an object, rather than when light passes between different materials.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Draw a pencil partly underwater, show where it appears bent, and explain why in one sentence. Add one step you would use to test your explanation.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Fill two clear cups, one with water and one empty; students compare a pencil's appearance, sketch observations, and repeat from different angles.
Students write a claim explaining why a straight straw looks bent in water, then support it with one observation.
Give teams picture cards showing mirrors, prisms, eyeglasses, shadows, and pencils in water; they sort refraction examples and defend each choice.
Students inspect eyeglasses or a clear plastic magnifier over printed words, then explain how redirected light changes what the eye sees.
Free download
Printable S4P1.c Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S4P1.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- S1P1.c
Plan and carry out an investigation of shadows by placing objects at various points from a source of light.
- S4P1.a
Plan and carry out investigations to observe and record how light interacts with various materials to classify them as opaque, transparent, or translucent.
- S8P4.d
Develop and use a model to compare and contrast how light and sound waves are reflected, refracted, absorbed, diffracted or transmitted through various material...
- S4P1.b
Plan and carry out investigations to describe the path light travels from a light source to a mirror and how it is reflected by the mirror using different angle...
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson