Light and colour: an animal vision lesson

Pupils explain that we see things because light bounces off them into our eyes, and that animal eyes use that light in different ways.

Ages 7 to 9 (US grades 2 to 4; England Years 3 and 4)20 minutesFree animals only

Hook

Show the red tulips through a dog's eyes. Ask: where did the red go?

Steps

1. 5 minWarm up: show the tulip photo as you see it, then sweep to the dog. Pupils say what changed.
2. 5 minSwap to the honey bee, then the mantis shrimp. Pupils vote: which animal sees the most colours?
3. 5 minTake a class photo (or use the tulips) and try all three animals on it. Nothing is uploaded.
4. 5 minTalk: light bounces off the tulips into every eye, but each eye sorts the colours differently.

The animals

• Dog
• Western honey bee
• Peacock mantis shrimp

Open the free tool Class mode

Talk about it

If a dog cannot tell red from green, how might it find a red ball on green grass?

A good answer

Good answers use a clue other than colour: how bright the ball is, its shape, its movement or its smell.

Worksheet

Print the worksheet (A4 or US Letter, with an answer key on its own page).

Curriculum links

• NGSS 4-PS4-2: Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen. Source
• England, Year 3: Light: Recognise that they need light in order to see things; notice that light is reflected from surfaces. Source

Curriculum links checked on 2026-10-01 for the US (NGSS) and England only.

All six lessons · Classroom licences