{"id":220,"date":"2008-09-08T14:06:52","date_gmt":"2008-09-08T19:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/220"},"modified":"2008-09-08T14:06:52","modified_gmt":"2008-09-08T19:06:52","slug":"teaching-physical-science-with-childrens-literature-flicker-flash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2008\/09\/08\/teaching-physical-science-with-childrens-literature-flicker-flash\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Physical Science with Children’s Literature: Flicker Flash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Many children associate the concept of light with the simple action of flicking\u00a0a light switch and are unaware of the various forms of light that\u00a0are used everyday. Joan Bransfield Graham and illustrator Nancy Davis compiled a series of poems, that illustrates and explains the different types of light, in the book Flicker Flash<\/a> which can help broaden a young child’s idea of light or to reinforce ideas before the start of an unit.<\/p>\n

In Flicker Flash<\/em>, Graham describes various\u00a0forms of light\u00a0used in household appliances (such as a light bulb, porch light, television, and a\u00a0refrigerator light),\u00a0light\u00a0in the night sky (including fireworks, lighthouses, a\u00a0lightening bolt,\u00a0and the moon), and light used\u00a0during special occasions (such as birthday candles, camera light and a spotlight). The\u00a0 poems explain how light is used\u00a0in many aspects of\u00a0the day and helps to broaden a child’s idea of light.<\/p>\n

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Light Oh, Light
\nCaptain of the midnight sky,
\nYou stretch your arms and flash your eye across the waves and churning foam to steer me,
\nGuide me,
\nSafely Home.
\nLight House<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Along with the text,\u00a0Davis’ pictures\u00a0helps to clarify the distinctions between the types of light by organizing the text to support how the light is used. For example, in the poem above, Davis supports the text by arranging the words into a lighthouse with some of the words extending away from the light house text simulating the search lights on the top of lighthouses.\u00a0Between the content of Graham’s writing\u00a0in addition to the reinforcement provided through Davis’ pictures, children will expand their knowledge on the multiple sources of light.<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nThis book can be used to help expand\u00a0young students’ knowledge to\u00a0recognize different sources of light. For older grades Flicker Flash <\/em>can be used to remind students of various light sources as an introduction before moving onto addressing additional characteristics of electricity (In Virginia this corresponds with standard 4.3).<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n