Science Projects > Earth & Space Projects > Light & the Sun Science Lesson for Kids 

Light & the Sun Science Lesson for Kids

Science Lesson

All About Light

  • Where does light come from?

Most light comes from heat. When something gets very hot, it usually gives off light. Some examples are a campfire, a stove burner, and the flame of a candle. They all produce heat and light! The largest and most important source of light we have is the Sun. (Read more about that below.) Most lights that we use come from electricity and light bulbs.

  • Is all light hot?

No, some kinds of light do not come from heat. Some examples are the light inside a firefly and the light in a television. Can you think of more?

  • How does light get around?

Light always travels in a straight line for as long as it can. When it hits something that it can’t go through, like a wall or a piece of cardboard, the light goes in a different direction. When you turn on a lamp in your room, light rays from the light bulb spread out all over the room and light it up so you can see.

  • Can light shine through things?

The Sun

The sun is the biggest, brightest, and hottest source of light available to us on the earth. Did you know that the sun is actually a star? The outside of the sun (its surface) is covered with very hot gases. The different gases mix together and cause reactions that are called nuclear reactions. Nuclear reactions create a lot of energy, which makes the sun very hot. The heat creates a lot of light too. Did you know that the sun is so bright that it will damage your eyes if you look directly at it? The light from the sun can also hurt your skin. Have you ever had a sunburn? Although sun rays can hurt our bodies if we aren’t careful, nothing would be able to live on the Earth without the energy (in the forms of heat and light) we get from the sun! Click here to see a close-up picture of the Sun from NASA.

Questions and answers about the sun:

  • How big is the sun?

Our sun is about 1.4 million kilometers in diameter (across its middle)! That is 109 times as big as earth.

To help your kids understand how big the sun is compared to the earth, help them count out 109 Cheerios and then line them up in a straight line on the floor. Explain that if Earth were as tiny as 1 Cheerio, the sun would be as big across its middle as the line of 109 Cheerios!

  • How far away is the sun?

It is 93 million miles away from earth. How far away do your friends live? Most of them probably only live a few miles away from you!

  • How long does it take for the sun’s light to travel to us?

It takes about 8½ minutes for light from the sun to get to us here on Earth.

Science Projects

What We Know About Light

Make a poster with your children of all the things they know about light. Label it “Things We Know about Light.” They can decorate the poster with pictures of things they listed. Here are some questions to ask:

  • What things can you think of that produce light?
  • How many more things that make light can you find around the house?
  • Are there any living things that make light?
  • What would it be like if you didn’t have any light?

There is much more to learn about light than what you will find here. If you plan to continue studying light, make another list for “Things We Want to Know about Light.” If you ask a question that your kids don’t know the answer to (or if they ask you one that you can’t answer!), add it to this poster. Then make a third list titled “Things We Have Learned about Light” and use it to review what you have learned.

Experiment with Light

Demonstrate how light rays travel with this experiment for young children. Light will move in a straight line unless a material that it can’t travel through blocks it. Then the light ‘bends’ and moves off in another direction.

What You Need:

  • Different materials to test, such as a sheet of clear plastic wrap, aluminum foil, tissue paper, shirt or piece of cloth, a book, a glass of water, etc.
  • a flashlight
  • a dimly lit room with a blank wall

What You Do:

What will happen when you shine a flashlight on different materials? Will light pass through or bounce off and go in a different direction? Have your children make a prediction about each material. Then, to test their predictions, hold each object, one at a time, a few feet in front of the wall. Shine the flashlight at the object (towards the wall). Observe what happens. Does any light reach the wall? Is it less light than without the object in front of the flashlight? Discuss how light can pass through some materials but not others. When light rays cannot pass through a material, they bend and go off in another direction. Can you see the light bending away from any of the materials that block it?

Earth & Space Science

Welcome! Read other Earth & Space Science articles or explore the rest of the Resource Center, which consists of hundreds of free science articles!

Shop for Earth & Space Science Supplies!

Home Science Tools offers a wide variety of earth science products and kits. Find earth science products and space educational supplies for labs and classrooms.

Related Articles

Science Fair Projects for 7th Graders

Science Fair Projects for 7th Graders

Science Fair Projects for 7th Graders​​ Science fair projects for 7th graders are a step up in complexity. Because 7th graders have a better grasp of science concepts, they’re expected to practice the scientific method in the way they approach their experiments–which...

Home Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Home Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Home Science Experiments for Preschoolers Home science experiments for preschoolers are a great way to pique your child’s curiosity, teach them valuable knowledge, and allow them to have some fun in the comfort of their own home. There are plenty of activities your...

Easy Science Fair Projects for Kids

Easy Science Fair Projects for Kids

Easy Science Fair Projects for Kids Science fairs are a long-standing tradition that provide kids with the opportunity to better understand practical concepts in fun and innovative ways. The great thing about the experiments presented at these events is that they...

How to Make a Pollinator Hotel

How to Make a Pollinator Hotel

Have you ever wondered how you can help provide habitat for pollinators like honey bees and butterflies in your back yard? Learn how to make a pollinator hotel with this step-by-step guide and lesson. Pollinators are animals that help move pollen. Most pollinators are...

Valentine’s Day Science Projects

Valentine’s Day Science Projects

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to inspire your student’s LOVE for science! Engage your kids with science concepts such as diffusion, density, and surfactants. These three, hands-on science projects include the Dancing Conversational Hearts, Rainbow Heart, and...

should I learn computer coding