Unit Overview

Students consider how light interacts with different materials as they engineer a lighting system to light up hieroglyphs in the dark. Pairs well with Computer Science Essentials: Programming Robots.

  • Grade 1
  • Setting: In school
  • Science connection: Light
  • 5 lessons (9 class sessions)

Standards alignment

We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering. View Standards Alignments.

Unit Map

Students are introduced to the concepts of engineering and technology. (30–40 min.)

Students read or listen to the storybook Omar’s Time to Shine, in which an Egyptian boy uses what he learns from optical engineers working inside an ancient tomb to develop a system for lighting the dancers in a school performance. (90–120 min., 3 sessions)

Students think like optical engineers as they explore how light interacts with different materials. (50–90 min.)

Students explore how a mirror can reflect light at different angles and observe that there is a pattern to reflection. (90–120 min., 2 sessions)

Students follow the steps of the Engineering Design Process to imagine, plan, create, and improve systems to illuminate hieroglyphs inside model tombs. (100–120 min., 2 sessions)

What's Included?

  • Teacher Guide (PDF)
  • Illustrated Storybook (PDF)
  • Print Materials (PDF)
  • Additional Resources