This week in Year 3, we’ve been shining a light on the fascinating topic of reflectors! Building on our previous learning about light sources, we reminded ourselves that light sources are things that create light, like the sun or a torch. We also revisited why the moon isn’t a light source but a reflector, meaning it’s excellent at bouncing light back to us.

Our big question for the lesson was:
“Which materials are best for keeping people safe at night?”

To find out, we worked in teams to investigate different materials and colours. Using torches, we tested how well each material reflected light. We even experimented by placing tissue paper or coloured plastic over the torch lens to see how the colour of light changed. This was a fun surprise for everyone!

Here’s what we discovered:

• Brightly coloured and shiny materials reflected light best.
• Dark colours didn’t reflect much light at all.
• Changing the colour of the light made us think about how visibility can be affected in different conditions.

With this knowledge, we moved on to the creative part: designing road safety jackets! We used what we had learned about reflective materials to sketch out a jacket that would help someone stay visible at night. It was a brilliant mix of science and design, and the children loved seeing how their scientific findings could make a real difference in everyday life!