Sunshine and Shadow Unit 7-11 yr olds
Introduction
This section covers several aspects of the 5-14 Guidelines for Science and Health Education. The intention is to provide online content and activities for pupils, along with additional teacher support in the form of suggestions and ideas for classroom work and downloadable activity sheets.
The emphasis in this section is on how shadows are formed, and how they change during the day as the Sun apparently passes overhead from east to west. The terms transparent, translucent and opaque are introduced. The section is closely allied to the section on sun care and every effort should be made to repeat, or direct pupils to, the health advice given there.
Curriculum references
Scottish 5-14 Guidelines
Environmental Studies - Science
Knowledge and understanding - Earth and Space
Strand - Earth in Space
- Level A - identify the Sun, the Moon and the stars
- link the pattern of day and night to the position of the Sun
- Level B - Identify the Sun as the main source of heat and light
Strand - Materials from Earth
- Level B - make observations of differences in the properties of common materials
Knowledge and understanding - energy and forces
Strand - Properties and uses of energy
- Level B identify the Sun as the main source of heat and light
- Level C link light to shadow formation
Classroom Applications
Sunshine and Shadow
Night and Day
This is a 'drag and drop' activity which helps pupils to understand the apparent movement of the Sun in the sky during the course of a day.
Learning outcomes
- Describe how the position of the Sun appears to change in relation to their classroom (or room at home) during the day.
- State that the shadows change in a similar way each day and that shadows are shortest in the middle of the day.
Extension work
Instructions for making a simple sundial out of cardboard. Pupils will need to be able to measure angles accurately for this to work.
To emphasise that shadows take the shape of the object which forms them, pupils are invited to indulge in a popular Victorian parlour game!
Instructions for performing a classic activity to follow the path of the Sun by marking the shadows it makes at different hours of the day.
Transparent, translucent, opaque
Pupils are presented with a selection of objects which they must put into the correct category. For younger pupils the choices are between transparent and opaque, while for older pupils the third category of opacity is introduced.
Learning outcomes
- Predict that the opaque materials will form shadows.
- Identify results that were unexpected eg the plastic bottle made a pale shadow, the nylon and greaseproof paper let some light through.
- Make a generalisation eg opaque materials form dark shadows because they do not let any light through, and even transparent materials can make a faint shadow because they block some light.
Useful web links
Sun care and SPF information is available at:
Department of Health sun care guidelines are available at:
British Sundial Society - some alternative suggestions for making sundials:
Imperial Cancer Research Fund is one of the world's leading cancer research organisations. For information on cancer visit their web site at:
The Met Office monitors the the UV Solar forecast for the UK and Europe, as well as real time UV data. This information is available at:
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) records the data that enables the Met Office to provide their UV forecasts. For more information visit:
Skin Cancer - information on sun and links can be found at:
Suncare Tips Leaflet
HEA Guidelines for schools
Downloads
Pupil Section Exe Files
These are versions of the pupil material for this topic that you can download and use offline. Simply save the .exe file to your desktop and double-click it.
Sunshine and Shadow
PDF files
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