Mississippi Science P.4.6B.1
The Standard
- P.4.6B
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the properties of light as forms of energy.
Construct scientific evidence to support the claim that white light is made up of different colors. Include the work of Sir Isaac Newton to communicate results.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Motion, Forces, and Energy
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Pass white light through a prism and record the colors they see. Use that observation and Newton's sunlight experiment to explain where the colors came from.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student draws white light entering a prism and color bands leaving it. They explain that the prism separates colors already in the light and describe what Newton saw when he tested sunlight.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think the prism adds color to white light. Others think white light has no colors in it or that rainbows come from colored raindrops.
How to Assess It
- After the prism test, ask students to draw what they saw and write one sentence explaining what it tells them about white light. Have them add what Newton observed when he passed sunlight through a prism.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Shine a white flashlight through a clear prism onto white paper, and have students sketch the colors they see.
Show a drawing of Newton's sunlight and prism setup; ask, 'What did he observe, and how does that support your explanation?'
Give pairs cards showing a white beam, a prism, and color bands; have them race to arrange and explain the sequence.
Show a rainbow photo and ask students to identify the sunlight and raindrops, then explain how the colors appeared.
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Printable P.4.6B.1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to P.4.6B.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- E.5.8A.2
Use evidence to argue why the sun appears brighter than other stars.
- P.1.6A.1
Construct explanations using first-hand observations or other media to describe how reflected light makes an object visible.
- P.8.6.6
Obtain and evaluate scientific information to explain the relationship between seeing color and the transmission, absorption, or reflection of light waves by va...
- PHS.5.1
Research the scientific contributions of Newton and use models to communicate Newton’s principles.
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