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What do people who are blind see?
Human Machine Unit | Lesson 2 of 4
Back > Share

What do people who are blind see?

Human Machine Unit | Lesson 2 of 4
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS (1 of 3):

Why do you think some people have problems with vision?

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DISCUSS (2 of 3):

How could we figure out how eyes work?

Here’s what we came up with...

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DISCUSS (3 of 3): Look at these eyes, and the eyes of the person next to you. What's the same? What's different?

Eyes Comparison

Do you think that any of the differences could explain why some people have trouble with vision, or not?

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Anchor Connection

DISCUSS (1 of 2):

Look at the "Wonder" column of your class See-Think-Wonder chart. Have any questions been answered by this Mystery?

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Anchor Connection

DISCUSS (2 of 2):

  1. How do the parts of an owl's eye work together as a system?

  2. Does light go into the eye or come out of it?

Go to the next slide to revise your owl system model.

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Slide Image
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vision


1 of 12

the ability to see
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Slide Image

light


2 of 12

what comes from the Sun and lamps and makes it possible to see things
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pupil


3 of 12

the dark opening in the center of the eye
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iris


4 of 12

the colored part of the eye that is shaped like a donut
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cornea


5 of 12

the clear layer in front of the eye
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retina


6 of 12

the back of the eye that senses light and sends messages to the brain
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structure


7 of 12

the specific form and shape of something
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function


8 of 12

what something does
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lens


9 of 12

a clear object that changes the direction of light as it passes through
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experiment


10 of 12

a test used to discover new information about a question
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model


11 of 12

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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dissect


12 of 12

to take something apart to study it
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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
blind man by TommyEdisonXP , used under CC BY
cat in window by Chris Lattuada , used under CC BY / Heavily modified
glasses by Michelle Arseneault , used under CC BY-SA / Adjusted color, cropped
cow by Peggy Greb
Activity
race car by The Tire Zoo , used under CC BY
light switch by Derek Gavey , used under CC BY-SA
man standing in front of curtains by Maegan Tintari , used under CC BY-SA
Other
Unit: brown eye by Giulia Marotta , used under Public Domain
Credits
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 4

Human Body, Vision, & The Brain

Light, Eyes, & Vision

4-PS4-2, 4-LS1-1

18236 reviews

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students discover the basics of how their eyes work, and figure out some of the causes of vision problems. In the activity, Eye Model, students develop a working model of a human eye. They use a magnifying lens as a model of the cornea to explore how the structure of this lens is related to the function of our eyes.
Preview activity
Number of students:

I have a Mystery Pack

Front of the Eye printout Print 30 copies
Markers
Used to color the iris so we suggest brown, blue, and green colors. Crayons or colored pencils will also work.
Details
30 markers
Scissors
30 pairs
Dot Stickers
We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom. Tape also works.
Details
60 stickers
Index Cards (3x5)
30 cards
Credit Card Size Magnifiers (3x)
You can find great prices on ebay.com, but you have to plan a few weeks ahead. Search ebay for “3X credit-card magnifier.”
Details
30 lenses
Prep Instructions

Try Making An Image With the Lens Before Class

As soon as you have a 3X magnifying lens, use it to make an image. For the best image, you need a dimly lit room and an interesting light source — like a window that lets light in, a lamp with a shade, or a television. Watch this short video for a demonstration.

After you’ve made an image, check to see what will work in your classroom. Do you have a door to the outside that you can prop open? A bright window? An interesting light fixture?

If you have a large class, you can set up a few stations with lamps around the room, or send students in batches to a window.

Hold On To The Eye Models

If you will be teaching the next lesson "How can some animals see in the dark?" , then you must save the eye models that students make in this lesson. Keep them in a safe place until you are ready to teach the next lesson.

Exploration

21 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Grade 4

Human Body, Vision, & The Brain

Light, Eyes, & Vision

4-PS4-2, 4-LS1-1

18236 reviews
Slow internet or video problems?
Credits