Shadows continued
Learners observe the relationship between shadows, an object and a light source by going outside and practicing scientific behaviors. Learners practice creating data about shadows.
Learning Objectives
- I can represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows (NGSS 5-ESS1-2).
Essential Questions
- How can I answer questions through observation?
- How can I act like a scientist?
- What patterns does the movement of the Earth create?
Lesson Plan
To recall and extend last class’s learning, show a video that summarizes how shadows change throughout a day. Ask learners what they notice about the shadows and encourage them to make connections to the previous day’s learning - where do you think the sun is in relation to the shadows? Why are the shadows moving? Why are they getting longer? Ask what causes these changes to happen (Earth’s rotation).
If the weather allows, go outside to observe the sun and the shadows it creates! This is a casual activity, acting as an opportunity to take concepts being studied into the real world. If you would like this to be a more formal exercise, students may write prompts in their journal that they must respond to outside.
Some questions to discuss outside:
- Where is the sun and where is your shadow?
- How is this the same as your flashlight model?
- Where did the sun rise from? Where will it set?
- How would the sun move throughout the day?
- Where would the sun be at noon? What about 5pm?
- What would happen to your shadow at noon? At 5pm?
To wrap up the launch, link this exercise to the observation and wonder at the heart of scientific inquiry.
Materials
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