11 Favorite light waves 1st grade read alouds
I’m not gonna lie, when those Next Gen Science Standards came out and had light waves 1st grade activities and standards, my stomach turned in knots a little. Ok, a lot.
Because physics is not my strong suit. Like, for reals.
But then, I dug my heels in and came across some great read aloud books on light, made some connections to things I was already teaching in first grade, and this light waves unit, along with this list of awesome trade books, was born! Let’s look at some of my favorite fiction and non-fiction books I found to connect with our light waves 1st grade unit.
(This post contains affiliate links which means that I get a tiny bit of pocket change from each purchase to feed my Diet Dr. Pepper addiction! :))
All of my integrated 1st grade units and Next Gen Science Units come with big ideas and essential questions. I just don’t know how to teach without big ideas and essential questions–it keeps me on track, focused on the bigger picture, and helps me make literacy and math connections more easily! Here are the essential questions for this light waves 1st grade science unit, and the books I used as literacy connections!
Week 1: Why Do We Need Light?
During this first week, we are reading about what light is, light sources, and charting our learning. And all of that research leads us to our Pinhole Light Box STEM connection. This light waves STEM challenge helps kids learn why we need light. Here are the books we use for this first week… Just click on the covers to grab the books to use for your classroom.
Week 2: How Do Materials Affect Light?
This second week is jam packed full of academic vocabulary like opaque, translucent, refract, reflect, and more! And the best and most engaging way to learn new concepts is through science labs. You’ll find a ton of science experiments in week 2 of the 1st grade light waves unit that I’ll blog about later! But I love how much literacy can be pulled in even when science labs are the primary focus. Click the covers to find and purchase each of the books!
Week 3: How Can We Use Light?
The first part of week 3, we learn some real life applications for using light. We study fireflies (and make a firefly craft), lighthouses, as well as make our own connections for how we use light! There are also great fictional connections this week as well. I LOVE this because it helps kids see the scientific concepts we’ve been learning about in a story world. And that really helps kids see the real life applications when they connect to the stories!
Week 3: What Color Is Light?
Yes, I know this is the second week 3… That’s just because there are 2 essential questions in the same week!
The second HALF of week 3, we learn about the science of color with my favorite man Bill Nye. (I can still sing that theme song in my head. Any other 90’s kids out there that can sing it with me??) Besides singing and learning from Bill Nye, the second half of week 3 is all about one of my favorite light science experiments I’ve blogged about before: Catching Rainbows!
