How can you tell they’ve got it: How We See Objects?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Draw a diagram showing light source → light hits object → reflects into eye; Explain that we see objects because reflected light enters our eyes, not because our eyes send out light; Use this model to explain why we can't see in total darkness (no light to reflect). Or just try it together: Can your child draw a diagram showing how light bounces off a book and enters your eye, which is how you actually see the book?

Science Waves, Light & Sound Ages 9–11

How We See Objects

Your child can explain how we see. Light bounces off a book and into the eye. Our eyes do not send light out, which is why we cannot see in full darkness.

In curriculum terms

Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Draw a diagram showing light source → light hits object → reflects into eye
Explain that we see objects because reflected light enters our eyes, not because our eyes send out light
Use this model to explain why we can't see in total darkness (no light to reflect)

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Try this together

Can your child draw a diagram showing how light bounces off a book and enters your eye, which is how you actually see the book?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Reflecting Lightages 7–8Must know light reflects off surfaces before modelling reflection-to-eye vision

Wave Behaviour Vocabularyages 9–11Modelling light reflecting from objects into the eye requires reflection vocabulary

How Shadows Formages 7–8Shadow knowledge supports understanding how light interacts with objects

How We See Objectsthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Light Travels in Straight Linesages 10–11Must understand reflection-to-eye model before using straight-line light to explain how we see

White Light & Colourages 11–12Prior work on how light reflects into the eye provides context for understanding colour perception

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1).

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2S6U08medium confidenceScience · Levels 5 and 6 · Science Understanding strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Patterns & Codes for Informationages 9–10 Wave Behaviour Vocabularyages 9–11 Waves & How They Moveages 9–10 Light Travels in Straight Linesages 10–11

All Waves, Light & Sound skills →