The Dark (And the Light)

This bulletin board is based on the recently published book by Lemony Snicket: The Dark.

Here are the IDOE 3rd grade standards used to make this exemplary book into an interactive bulletin board using science standards:

3.1.4 Investigate how light travels through the air and tends to maintain its direction until it interacts with some other object or material

3.1.5 Observe and describe how light is absorbed, changes its direction, is reflected back and passes through objects. Observe and describe that a shadow results when light cannot pass through an object.

 There were two sets of objectives:

-Students will be able to complete a set of experiments using Lazlo's flashlight to demonstrate some of the basic properties of light, and

-Students will be able to identify other sources of light and describe what life was like before the invention of the light bulb

 

 

Activity Pictured Above: Students use Lazlo's pivoting arm to point his flashlight at each of the three objects attached to the board. The compact mirror displays reflection, the cutout of the pigeon casts a shadow onto the surface behind it, and the water bottle shows how light refracts in water. Students could make and record predictions before doing the activity to introduce the scientific method.

Activity on the other side of the board: There are facts about light and the light bulb that are displayed in the "light beam" coming from the light bulb in Lazlo's hand on the right side of the board. To the left of the light beam is a passage that explains that life was much different before the invention of the light bulb and asks students to think of alternative sources of light. Under the "drawer" flap, the students can check their answers. On the right side of the light beam, students are given two writing prompts: 

1) write a short story about what life was like before the light bulb was invented

2) write an alternative ending to The Dark where Lazlo does not find the precious light bulb. What happens differently? What does he find or use instead?

Materials: 

-construction paper

-small mirror

-paper cut-out of choice for shadow task

-wooden dowels 

-working flashlight

-nail or pin to use as pivot for arm

-pushpins

-water bottle full of water

-laminate (optional)

There are also QR codes on the board that link to these websites for further exploration: 

-Interview with Lemony Snicket

-Science of Light

Enjoy!