OVERVIEW

In this project, students collect data as they observe shadows through the year. They learn what causes a shadow (something gets in the way of light) and observe that shadows change in length during the year. They learn that shadows change over time because of the angle of the Sun in the sky, which is caused by the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth’s axis.

For more information on long term project, click on TEACHER.

DOCENT LESSONS AT A GLANCE

The 6 docent lessons support the long-term project and cover the following topics in depth: For more information on the lesson plans below, click on DOCENT.

Lesson 1. SHADOWS
Learning how shadows are formed and observing how direction and angle of light can cause shadows to change

Lesson 2. REFLECTION AND REFRACTION
Comparing how light moves when it reflects and refracts

Lesson 3. PRISMS AND RAINBOWS
Learn about how light moves, where colors of light come from, how light refracts through different prisms and what causes rainbows.

Lesson 4. LIGHT IN THE UNIVERSE
Discovering that the Sun is a star and radiates light and comparing and contrasting the bodies in the sky that reflect light.

Lesson 5. EXPLORING NIGHT AND DAY AND THE SEASONS
Experimenting with rotation and revolution and the seasons.

Lesson 6. PHASES OF THE MOON
Exploring the Earth/Moon Systems creates the ultimate shadow in the sky that we see as phases of the moon.