WHY DOES THE SUN SHINE?

In this short hands-on lesson, your students will compare a warm-filament bulb, cool-touch LED lights, and even a solar flashlight.

By noticing which lights feel hot, which look different colors, and which store sunlight to shine later, children will discover a simple but powerful idea: the sun's brightness comes from activity inside it (like a nuclear power plant), not from a wire or battery.

The activity is easy to prepare, arouses curiosity and develops the scientific skills and wonder promoted by the LOMLOE curriculum.

AGE: 5-8 years

KEY COMPETENCES (LOMLOE):

• Competence in science, technology and engineering.
• Citizen competence.
• Digital competence

DIDACTIC OBJECTIVES:

• Introduce the idea that stars generate light and heat.
• Contrast artificial light (filament, LEDs) with starlight.
• To encourage scientific thinking and wonder about the Universe.

MATERIALS:

• 40 W transparent incandescent bulb (E27).
• LED bulbs 3000 K, 4000 K and 6000 K (E27).
• E27 lamp holder with cable.
• Smartphone light metering app (optional).
• Scientific apps - ESASky, Stellarium (optional)

INCLUSION:

• Mild cognitive impairment: using clear language and pictograms of the Sun, Fusion and Light.
• Partial visual impairment: provide oral descriptions and allow tactile scanning of light bulbs (cold vs. hot).