How We See: Light and the Eye — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 5th Grade energy, light, sound & electricity worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet5th Grade · Science · Energy, Light, Sound & ElectricityHow We See: Light and the Eye — Answers
Part A: From light to sight
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
We see when light enters our eyes. Light comes from a light source, such as the Sun or a lamp. Most objects do not make light; we see them because light reflects off them and travels in straight lines into our eyes.
Light passes through the clear cornea at the front of the eye, then through the pupil — the black hole in the middle. The colored iris around the pupil changes its size: smaller in bright light, bigger in dim light.
Behind the pupil, the lens focuses the light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The image formed there is actually upside down! The retina sends signals along the optic nerve to the brain, which turns them into the picture we see the right way up.
In a completely dark room there is no light to reflect into our eyes, so we cannot see anything at all.
- ALight from your eyes shines onto the tree.
- BSunlight reflects off the tree into your eyes.
- CThe tree makes its own light.
- DYour brain sees it without light.
Answer: Sunlight reflects off the tree into your eyes.
Light travels from the Sun to the tree, reflects off it and enters your eyes.
- Athe iris
- Bthe retina
- Cthe optic nerve
- Dthe eyelash
Answer: the iris
The iris is the colored ring of muscle. It makes the pupil bigger or smaller.
- Aonto the pupil
- Bonto the iris
- Conto the retina
- Donto the eyelid
Answer: onto the retina
The lens bends light so a sharp image forms on the retina at the back of the eye.
- Athe lens
- Bthe cornea
- Cthe pupil
- Dthe optic nerve
Answer: the optic nerve
The retina turns light into signals that travel along the optic nerve to the brain.
- AThey get smaller.
- BThey get bigger.
- CThey change color.
- DThey stay exactly the same.
Answer: They get smaller.
In bright light the iris makes the pupil smaller to protect the retina from too much light.
Part B: Parts of the eye
- cornea
- pupil
- lens
- retina
- clear front cover that lets light in
- turns light into signals
- hole that light passes through
- focuses light onto the retina
Answer: cornea → clear front cover that lets light in; pupil → hole that light passes through; lens → focuses light onto the retina; retina → turns light into signals
Answer: down
Answer: lamp → book → eye → brain.
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: False
Eyes only receive light. Light must come from a source or reflect off an object into our eyes.
Answer: True
A bigger pupil lets more light in so you can see better in dim light.
Answer: False
Cats see well in dim light, but no animal can see with no light at all.
Answer: True
The Sun's light is strong enough to damage the retina permanently.
Part D: Working scientifically: watching your pupils
Try this with a mirror. Never shine a light straight into anyone's eyes.
Ella sat in a dim room for one minute, then looked at her eyes in a mirror. Next she switched on the room light and watched her pupils again.
Answer: It got bigger (wider).
Answer: The pupil quickly got smaller.
Model answer: In dim light the iris makes the pupil bigger to let more light into the eye so we can see. In bright light the pupil gets smaller to let less light in, which protects the retina from too much light.
Success criteria:
- Links a bigger pupil to dim light and more light entering
- Links a smaller pupil to bright light
- Mentions the iris controls the pupil or that it protects the retina
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
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