Lesson Plan
Lesson 7: Changing Shadows
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate if shadows change throughout the day.
This lesson plan includes the following resources:
Preparation
Prior to conducting the lesson, review the procedure and equipment required for the experiment (which will need to be conducted on a sunny day). Experiment data will need to be collected four times over the course of a school day. Students may require an additional lesson to graph and interpret their results.Equipment
- Straight objects of at least knee height
- Tape measures
Lesson Plan
Tuning In
- Remind the students of the sundial activity completed earlier in the unit. Encourage a volunteer to describe how a sundial works (the sun’s position in the sky causes shadows to be cast in different positions throughout the day).
- As a class, complete the Light and Shadows activity on the ABC Education website. Work through the introduction, the casting shadows activity and the matching shadows activity.
Teacher Instruction
- Provide the students with a copy of the Science Experiment – Changing Shadows.ย Read through the first page of the experiment booklet as a class and check that the students understand the method.
- Remind the students that, when conducting experiments, scientists make predictions about what they think will happen. Support the students to record their prediction about what will happen to the shadow of the object throughout the day.
- Discuss the constants and variables for the experiment and allow the students to record these on their worksheet. Support the students to draw and label a diagram of how the experiment will be set up.
Guided/Independent Learning
- Conduct the experiment as a whole class, in small groups or in pairs (depending on the availability of resources). At the appropriate times (early morning, mid-morning, midday and mid-afternoon), take the students outside to check the position of the sun and the object’s shadow. Each time, support the students to draw a diagram of the object, shadow and sun, then to write a brief description of the shadow’s position.
- Once all four measurements have been taken, support the students to graph their results using the scaffold provided in the experiment booklet. Encourage the students to complete the discussion questions independently.
Wrapping Up
- Gather the class together. Invite the students to share their results and their answers to the discussion questions. Guide the students to the conclusion that:
- the position of the sun in the sky changes throughout the day
- shadows change throughout the day
- the Earth’s rotation is responsible for these changes.
- Collect the students’ experiment booklets. These could beย included in a portfolio of work samples and used to assess the studentsโ understanding of the unit objectives.
Differentiation
Extending Students
- Encourage more capable students to support less confident studentsย when conducting the experiment.
Supporting Students
- Allow less confident students to be supported by more capable peers when conducting the experiment.
Assessment Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
- used strategic whole class or individual questioning
- observed student participation during learning activities
- recorded student progress on a checklist
- annotated student work samples
- collected and reviewed student work samples
- facilitated whole class or peer feedback sessions
- encouraged student self-reflection
- administered formal assessment tasks.
NSW Curriculum alignment
- ST2-2DP-T
Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
- ST2-10ES-S
Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth's surface
- ST2-11DI-T
Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data
- ST2-2DP-T
Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
- ST2-10ES-S
Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth's surface
- ST2-11DI-T
Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data
Victorian Curriculum alignment
- VCSIS065
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge
- VCSIS065
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge
- VCSIS066
Suggest ways to plan and conduct investigations to find answers to questions including consideration of the elements of fair tests
- VCSIS066
Suggest ways to plan and conduct investigations to find answers to questions including consideration of the elements of fair tests
- VCSIS069
Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
- VCSIS069
Use a range of methods including tables and column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
- VCSSU061
Earth's rotation on its axis causes regular changes, including night and day
- VCSIS070
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
- VCSSU061
Earth's rotation on its axis causes regular changes, including night and day.
- VCSIS070
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
- VCSIS072
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language
- VCSIS072
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings to show patterns and relationships using formal and informal scientific language
Australian Curriculum alignment
- ACSSU048
Earth's rotation on its axis causes regular changes, including night and day
- ACSHE050
Science involves making predictions and describing patterns and relationships
- ACSIS060
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations
- ACSIS215
Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
- ACSIS055
Consider the elements of fair tests and use formal measurements and digital technologies as appropriate, to make and record observations accurately
- ACSIS053
With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on prior knowledge
- ACSIS057
Use a range of methods including tables and simple column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends
- ACSIS054
With guidance, plan and conduct scientific investigations to find answers to questions, considering the safe use of appropriate materials and equipment
Find more resources for these topics
ScienceEarth and Space SciencesSpace & Solar SystemScience ExperimentsSun Earth and Moon
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