Virginia SOL 1.3.c

Science1st GradeMatter

The Standard

the type and amount of material determine how much light can pass through an object.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students test different materials with a flashlight and compare how much light passes through each one. They also compare one layer with several layers of the same material.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can sort materials by whether they let through a lot, some, or no light. The student can use test results to explain why added layers often reduce the light passing through.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think color alone controls how much light passes through a material. They may also assume that adding layers will not change the amount of light.
How to Assess It: Show pictures of a flashlight shining through one tissue, four tissues, and foil. Ask students to rank the light spots from brightest to darkest and explain their choices.

Lesson moves

Shine a flashlight through foil, wax paper, plastic wrap, and stacked tissue sheets, then record each light spot with simple drawings.
Ask, “Why does one tissue sheet make a brighter spot than four sheets?” Have partners explain using observations.
Play Light Sort: students place samples under “a lot,” “some,” or “none,” then test each sample and correct their choices.
Compare a sheer curtain and a blackout curtain, then ask which would help a room stay dark and why.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.3.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.