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Mirror Magic

Elizabeth Hosek

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Mirror Magic Lesson Plan

Students will explore how light reflects off surfaces by investigating angles of incidence and reflection through guided hands-on mirror and flashlight experiments.

This lesson builds foundational optics skills, promotes scientific inquiry, and helps students connect everyday phenomena (mirrors, shiny objects) to principles of light behavior.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on mirror and flashlight exploration

Materials

Mirrors (one per student or group), Flashlights (one per group), Assorted shiny objects (e.g., spoons, CDs), Reflection Recording Sheet, and Pencils

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Gather mirrors, flashlights, and shiny objects at each station
  • Print copies of the Reflection Recording Sheet
  • Test flashlights to ensure they work
  • Arrange classroom seating for easy group collaboration

Step 1

Introduction to Reflection

5 minutes

  • Ask: “What happens when light hits a smooth surface like a mirror?”
  • Show a demonstration: shine a flashlight at a mirror and observe the reflected beam
  • Define key terms: incident ray, reflected ray, angle of incidence, and angle of reflection

Step 2

Hands-On Exploration

13 minutes

  • Divide students into groups and hand out materials: mirrors, flashlights, and Reflection Recording Sheet
  • Instruct students to:
    • Shine the flashlight at various angles onto the mirror
    • Observe where the reflected beam goes
    • Record incident and reflected angles on their sheet
  • Circulate to guide proper beam alignment and reinforce vocabulary

Step 3

Group Discussion

4 minutes

  • Reconvene and ask groups to share one observation
  • Draw a large ray diagram on the board illustrating equal angles
  • Emphasize the rule: angle of incidence equals angle of reflection
  • Connect to real-world examples (periscopes, car mirrors)

Step 4

Formative Assessment

3 minutes

  • Distribute a quick prompt on the board: “Draw a mirror and two rays showing an incident and reflected ray.”
  • Students sketch the diagram on their sheet
  • Collect sheets to check understanding of ray angles

Step 5

Differentiation Strategies

3 minutes

  • For learners needing support:
    • Use a protractor to measure and confirm angles
    • Provide a partially completed diagram
  • For advanced learners:
    • Investigate how surface texture (shiny vs. matte) affects reflection
    • Challenge: predict reflection behavior on curved mirrors

Step 6

Closure

2 minutes

  • Summarize the law of reflection in one sentence
  • Ask: “How do rearview mirrors help drivers see behind them?”
  • Encourage students to look for reflective surfaces at home and note how light bounces
lenny

Lesson Plan

Reflection of Light Lesson Plan

Students will investigate how light reflects off various surfaces by measuring and recording incident and reflected angles, then articulate the law of reflection through hands-on experiments.

Understanding reflection builds foundational optics knowledge, strengthens scientific inquiry skills, and connects everyday phenomena (mirrors, shiny objects) to core science standards on light properties.

Audience

5th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided hands-on exploration with mirrors and flashlights

Materials

Mirrors (One Per Group), Flashlights (One Per Group), Assorted Shiny Objects (e.g., Spoons, CDs), Protractors, Pencils, Reflection Recording Sheet, and Reflection Diagram Prompt

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Gather all physical materials: mirrors, flashlights, shiny objects, protractors, and pencils
  • Print copies of Reflection Recording Sheet and Reflection Diagram Prompt
  • Test each flashlight to ensure batteries are fresh and beams are strong
  • Arrange desks in small clusters to facilitate group work

Step 1

Introduction to Reflection

5 minutes

  • Pose the question: “What happens when light hits a smooth surface like a mirror?”
  • Demonstrate shining a flashlight onto a mirror and watch the reflected beam
  • Define and write on the board: incident ray, reflected ray, angle of incidence, angle of reflection

Step 2

Hands-On Exploration

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and distribute materials and Reflection Recording Sheet
  • Instruct groups to:
    • Shine the flashlight at different angles onto the mirror
    • Use a protractor to measure the angle of incidence and angle of reflection
    • Record measurements and observations on their sheet
  • Encourage students to test with various shiny objects and note any differences

Step 3

Group Sharing

5 minutes

  • Reconvene and invite each group to share one key measurement and observation
  • On the board, draw a large ray diagram illustrating equal angles of incidence and reflection
  • Reinforce the law of reflection: angle of incidence equals angle of reflection

Step 4

Formative Assessment

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Reflection Diagram Prompt
  • Ask students to draw a mirror with one incident and one reflected ray, labeling both angles
  • Collect prompts to evaluate each student’s understanding of angle relationships

Step 5

Closure

2 minutes

  • Summarize: “The angle of incidence always equals the angle of reflection.”
  • Ask: “How do car mirrors or periscopes use this rule?”
  • Encourage students to observe reflective surfaces at home and consider light’s behavior
lenny

Slide Deck

Reflection of Light

A hands-on exploration of how light bounces off surfaces.

Welcome students and introduce the lesson topic: Reflection of Light. Explain that today’s class is all about how light bounces off surfaces.

Learning Objectives

  • Investigate how light reflects off surfaces
  • Measure incident and reflected angles
  • State the law of reflection

Read through each objective with the class and ensure students understand the goals.

Key Vocabulary

Incident Ray: The incoming light beam
Reflected Ray: The light beam that bounces off
Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal (perpendicular line)
Angle of Reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal

Define each term clearly. Ask volunteers to point to where an incident or reflected ray would go.

Demonstration of Reflection

Shine a flashlight at a mirror and observe the reflected beam.
Notice how the incoming and outgoing angles relate.

Demonstrate with a flashlight and mirror at the front. Vary the angle and ask students what they notice.

Materials & Setup

  • Mirror (one per group)
  • Flashlight (one per group)
  • Shiny objects (e.g., spoons, CDs)
  • Protractor
  • Reflection Recording Sheet

Arrange materials at each group station.

Show students the station layout. Verify each group has the listed materials.

Hands-On Exploration

  1. Shine the flashlight at the mirror at various angles
  2. Use a protractor to measure the incident angle
  3. Measure and record the reflected angle on your sheet
  4. Repeat with different shiny objects and note any differences

Circulate among groups to assist with angle measurements and reinforce vocabulary.

Law of Reflection

The angle of incidence always equals the angle of reflection.

Draw a large ray diagram on the board. Label both angles. Emphasize the equality.

Quick Check

Draw a mirror with one incident ray and one reflected ray.
Label both angles and submit your diagram.

Distribute the Reflection Diagram Prompt. Allow 3 minutes for students to sketch and label.

Everyday Reflections

How do car mirrors or periscopes use the law of reflection?
At home, look for reflective surfaces and notice how light bounces off them.

Wrap up by connecting to everyday examples and encouraging home exploration.

lenny

Worksheet

Reflection Recording Sheet

Part 1: Measure and Record

In each trial, shine the flashlight at the mirror. Use a protractor to measure and record the angles.

Trial 1:

  • Incident Angle (°): _______

  • Reflected Angle (°): _______

  • Observation:


Trial 2:

  • Incident Angle (°): _______

  • Reflected Angle (°): _______

  • Observation:


Trial 3:

  • Incident Angle (°): _______

  • Reflected Angle (°): _______

  • Observation:


Part 2: Shiny Object Test

Choose a shiny object (e.g., spoon, CD) and repeat one trial.

  • Object Used: _______

  • Incident Angle (°): _______

  • Reflected Angle (°): _______

  • Observation:





Part 3: Reflection Rules

  1. What pattern did you notice about the incident and reflected angles?





  2. Write the Law of Reflection based on your data.


Part 4: Ray Diagram

Draw a mirror, one incident ray, and one reflected ray. Label all angles. Refer to Reflection Diagram Prompt if needed.










Submit your completed sheet to your teacher.

lenny
lenny

Activity

Reflection Diagram Prompt

Quick Check (3 minutes)


Draw a straight vertical line to represent a mirror. Then:

  1. Sketch an incident ray (incoming light) hitting the mirror.
  2. Draw the normal (a dotted line perpendicular to the mirror at the point of contact).
  3. Sketch the reflected ray (the light ray bouncing off).
  4. Label each part: incident ray, normal, reflected ray.
  5. Mark and label the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection.

Remember: these two angles should be equal!










lenny
lenny