Lesson 6: Is it transparent or not?
This Year 2 transparent, translucent and opaque materials lesson helps pupils investigate how different materials allow light to pass through them. Pupils learn the meaning of transparent, translucent and opaque before making predictions and testing a range of everyday materials.
The lesson supports the Year 2 Science National Curriculum requirement to identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials for particular uses. Pupils consider why transparency is an important property when choosing materials for different purposes, while developing their Working Scientifically skills through close observation and simple tests.
What is the difference between transparent, translucent and opaque materials?
Pupils explore the school environment to identify examples before carrying out a practical transparent, translucent and opaque materials investigation. Working in pairs, they make predictions and use torches to test materials including paper, tissue paper, cling film and foil, recording their findings on the accompanying worksheet.
Year 2 transparent, translucent and opaque materials resources
- Launchable teaching slides
- Teacher lesson plan
- Materials investigation worksheet
- Transparent, translucent and opaque materials investigation
- Prediction and simple testing activity
- Assessment questions and further challenge ideas
✨ How to use the launchable slides
Launch the presentation directly in your browser and use it on your interactive whiteboard.
📝 Click Notes to see teacher guidance, answers and additional information where included.
⬅️ ➡️ To move through the presentation, click on the slides first, then use the left and right cursor arrow keys on your keyboard.
For technical and copyright reasons, these presentation slides are available to launch online rather than download.
Explore the full Year 2 Uses of Everyday Materials resources, or explore our Year 2 science scheme of work and resources.
This resource is part of the Mrs Mactivity Science Scheme of Work →
