How We See Things
Aligned to 4-PS4-2 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
We see objects when light bounces off them and travels into our eyes. In a completely dark room with no light at all, our eyes cannot see anything.
Worked examples
Example 1
You can see a red apple because light hits it, bounces off, and enters your eyes. Turn off every light and the apple seems to vanish — even though it is still sitting there.
Example 2
A mirror bounces light back in an orderly way, so you see a reflection instead of just a bright patch.
Example 3
A red shirt looks red because it absorbs most colors of light and bounces red back. Under a blue-only light, it looks nearly black.
Practice questions
- Look around a bright room, then picture it with the lights off. Why can't you see in total darkness?
- Draw arrows showing light traveling from a lamp, to a book, and then into an eye.
- Explain why you cannot see any object in a room that has no light at all.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Cómo vemos las cosas
Vemos los objetos cuando la luz rebota en ellos y viaja hasta nuestros ojos. En un cuarto completamente oscuro, sin nada de luz, nuestros ojos no pueden ver nada.
Ejemplo 1: Puedes ver una manzana roja porque la luz la golpea, rebota y entra a tus ojos. Apaga todas las luces y la manzana parece desaparecer — aunque sigue ahí.
Ejemplo 2: Un espejo rebota la luz de forma ordenada, por eso ves un reflejo en vez de solo una mancha brillante.
Ejemplo 3: Una camisa roja se ve roja porque absorbe casi todos los colores de la luz y rebota el rojo. Bajo una luz solo azul, se ve casi negra.
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