Light and shadows
I can identify light sources and explain how shadows are created.
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General
In this lesson, students participate in a shadow hunt. They will review what light is and learn about the different sources of light. They will then learn what shadows are and how they are created. Students will practice matching objects to their shadows and they will practice sorting objects that create shadows and objects that don’t. The lesson ends with a fun activity where students find shadows and trace them on a piece of paper.
Standards
NGSS:
1-PS4-3
1-PS4-2
Learning Objective
Students will be able to conduct investigations to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.
Introduction
Take your students on a shadow hunt around the school. If possible, you might also take them outside to search for shadows and make observations. Review different sources of light and have students drag the flashlights into the black box to reveal some facts about light.
Instruction
Explain the difference between transparent and opaque objects and define what shadows are and how they are created. Show students some pictures of shadows and have them try to determine what objects created those shadows. Next, have students drag the shadows to the object that created it. Then students will watch a video about shadows. What new information did they learn from the video? After this, students sort items into objects that would create a shadow and objects that will not.
Quiz
Students respond to ten multiple-choice and true/false questions.
Closing
Students will create a shadow drawing. If possible, take students outside and have them place objects on a piece of white paper. Then have them use a marker to trace the outlines of the shadows those objects create.
Instruction materials
Students will need the following items for the closing activity:
White paper
Two objects of your choice
Marker
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