Light and Shadows: How Shadows Are Made

Learning Objectives

• Identify light sources and explain that we need light to see.
• Sort materials into transparent, translucent and opaque.
• Explain how shadows form and how their size and length change.

How to Use This Resource

• Darken the room and use a flashlight to make hand shadows on the wall.
• Teach the key ideas with the slides and test a few materials, then use worksheet activities 1 to 6.
• Use the quiz to check learning and send the shadow watch homework home.

Classroom Activity Ideas

• Shadow puppets: children cut out cardboard animals and put on a shadow show with a flashlight.
• Material test: shine a flashlight through glass, tissue paper, foil, cardboard and plastic wrap and sort the results.
• Playground shadows: draw around a child's shadow with chalk in the morning, at midday and in the afternoon.

Differentiation

Support: test real materials before sorting and use the picture cards. Challenge: explain why shadows are longer in the morning and evening using the position of the Sun.

Assessment

Worksheet activities 1 to 5 and the quiz check light sources, materials and shadows. Use the rubric for the labeled diagram in activity 6.

Teacher Tips

Remind children never to look directly at the Sun or shine a flashlight into someone's eyes.

What's Included

• 11-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
• Key vocabulary list (7 words with meanings and examples)
• Student worksheet (6 activities)
• Quiz / assessment (4 parts)
• Homework practice page
• Printable flashcards: 7 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
• Assessment rubric (4 levels)
• Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
• Editable Word version of all student pages
• Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

• Lesson Slides (PowerPoint, editable) (PPTX)
• Editable Student Pages + Lesson Plan (Word) (DOCX)
• Flashcards (PDF, A5, one card per page) (PDF)
• Answer Key (PDF) (PDF)

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