Free 1st Grade Light rays Worksheets

First graders learn that light travels in straight lines called rays, and that these rays behave differently depending on what they hit. When light rays hit a shiny surface, they reflect, which is why mirrors and windows glitter. When they hit an opaque object, they are blocked, creating a shadow behind it. When they hit a transparent material, they pass through. Understanding that light travels as rays in straight lines is the foundation for all of these concepts.

Light rays are introduced in Grade 1 physical science as part of the light unit, after students have explored light sources and shadows. The concept typically follows hands-on exploration with flashlights and is introduced through simple diagrams showing a light source with straight lines radiating outward. It builds directly toward reflection, refraction, and optics concepts taught in later grades.

Darken a room and shine a flashlight at different surfaces, a mirror, a piece of black paper, a glass of water. Ask your child where the light goes in each case and why. Then use the worksheet to draw the light rays from the flashlight and show what happens at each surface. The direct observation makes the abstract concept of ray direction concrete and memorable.