Sunlight and shade at different times of the day
I can determine where shade is found when there is sunlight at different times.
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General
In this lesson, students learn to make a connection between the direction of a shadow and the location of the Sun. They will go over the position of the sun at different times of the day and practice identifying the correct location of the shadow of an object. The lesson includes two printable worksheets for students to work with.
Standards
NGSS:
K-PS3-1
K-PS3-2
Learning Objective
Students will be able to make accurate drawings of shadows and note the position of the Sun in the sky, making a connection between the two.
Introduction
Have students imagine a scene outside at dismissal. Describe a shadow as a dark spot on the ground that moves with them. Ask if students can name this dark spot and discuss what they already know about shadows.
Instruction
Describe the sun and explain that it appears to move throughout the day. Be sure to clarify that although the sun appears to move across the sky throughout the day, it's really the Earth that rotates and causes day and night. Show the image on the board illustrating the sun at different times of the day: sunrise, morning, noontime, afternoon, and sunset. Next, explain how shadows are formed and that the location and shape of the shadow will depend on the time of day. Have students watch the video to see the sun’s path throughout the day and discuss observations. After this, students circle the correct image that depicts the time of day. Then they will drag a checkmark or X to determine if the shadow’s location is correct.
Students will then draw a shadow for the tree in the picture presented on the board. There is also a printable worksheet for this activity.
Quiz
Students respond to ten multiple-choice and true or false questions.
Closing
Students will drag the sun on the board to different areas of the arch. They should name the different times of the day. Finally, they will draw a picture of the scene described. This will include the morning sun, themselves, an animal, and a plant, along with the correct shadows. There is a printable worksheet for this activity.
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