Free Light & Shadows Worksheets and Learning Pack
Light is a kind of energy that lets us see. In air, water or glass that is the same all the way through, it travels in straight lines, so an opaque object in its path leaves a shadow behind it. Light can also change direction: it bounces off a mirror (reflection) and bends as it passes between water and air (refraction), which is why a pencil in a glass of water can look bent. We see most things because light reflects off them into our eyes. This pack turns those ideas into diagrams children can label, draw and test.
- Ages
- 6–10
- Grades
- 1–4 (approx.)
- Subject
- Physical Science
- Pages
- 8 printable pages
- Time
- 30–75 minutes
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
What children will learn
- ✓ How shadows form, and why a shadow grows when the object moves closer to a small light
- ✓ The difference between opaque, translucent and transparent materials
- ✓ How a mirror reflects light at equal angles to the normal
- ✓ Why a pencil looks bent in water, and how our eyes see objects
What's inside the pack
- ✓ Cover page
- ✓ Learning objectives
- ✓ Five light facts with NASA, Science Learning Hub and Physics Classroom sources
- ✓ Light and vision vocabulary (9 words)
- ✓ Label the shadow diagram + predict the shadow
- ✓ Mirror reflection + pencil in water activities
- ✓ Five-question quiz with bonus question
- ✓ Answer key with the drawn reflected ray
- ✓ Teacher and parent notes with a shadow investigation and safety guidance
How to use it
Read the five facts and the nine words, then label the shadow diagram and predict which setup makes the bigger shadow. Draw the reflected ray on the dotted mirror grid and answer the pencil-in-water question. For the hands-on shadow test you need a small battery flashlight, a toy, white paper and a ruler: keep the flashlight and paper still, move only the toy and compare the shadow heights. No materials? The printed diagrams on pages 4 and 5 work on their own.
Want more pictures on this topic? Browse the matching coloring collection, or find more classroom printables in the Teacher Resource Centre.
Explore science coloring lessons using these learning packs →
Science sources
The facts in this pack were checked against these sources, which are also printed inside the PDF.
Questions parents and teachers ask
Is the shadow investigation safe?
Yes, with an adult nearby. Use a cool, low-voltage battery flashlight, never shine it into anyone's eyes, never use lasers and never look directly at the Sun.
Does the pencil really bend in water?
No. Light changes direction as it passes from water into air, so the part under water appears shifted. The pencil itself is unchanged.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, page 7 answers every activity, including a drawn reflected ray that matches the worksheet.
Which paper sizes?
US Letter and A4.
More free learning packs
- Electricity & Circuits Learning Pack
- Forces & Motion Learning Pack
- Solar System Learning Pack
- Volcano Learning Pack