Resources:
Flat mirrors, a curved mirror (a spoon), paper, pencil and cardboard.

ENGAGE:
Write your name on a piece of paper. Now stand in front of a wall mirror. Place the paper with your name facing the mirror. Try to read your name by observing the image in the mirror. Observe what happens. How does it look? Can you read it properly?
Now look at the mirror. Wave with your right hand. Your image is waving back at you. Which hand is waving in the mirror image? (Can you see that the left hand is waving?)

Note:
When we stand in front of a mirror we can see a reversed image (left and right are inverted). When we place our name or a word in front of a mirror it appears reversed.
• How is the word ‘AMBULANCE’ written on the front of an ambulance? The word ‘ambulance’ is reversed. Drivers will be able to read it properly through their car mirrors.

INQUIRE:
Hold a smaller mirror in your hands and place it in front of the wall mirror. What do you see?
MULTIPLE MIRRORS PRODUCE MULTIPLE IMAGES
Now place two mirrors close together. Place an object between the mirrors. Observe what you see in the mirror as you move the mirrors closer to each other. The closer the mirrors are placed next to each other, the more images are observed.
Flash a torch towards a flat mirror. What happens? Can you see that the mirror will reflect the light back?
Now look in a curved mirror, you can use a spoon. What do you observe? What are curved mirrors used for in our everyday lives?

Note:
Curved mirrors (convex mirrors) in the streets can be used to help drivers see around blind corners. Curved mirrors are also found opposite ‘blind’ entrances to help cars see out onto a busy road. Mirrors at the supermarket are also curved to give a wide view of the shop and the customers shopping.
Mirrors on car doors are curved to give drivers a wide view of the road and traffic behind them.
Mirrors are also used to devise ways of seeing things which cannot be seen directly such as a periscope. Watch the following video to learn about periscopes. You can also design your own periscope by using the sketch found at the end of this lesson.