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Could a statue's shadow move?
Sun & Shadows Unit | Lesson 1 of 4

Could a statue's shadow move?

Sun & Shadows Unit | Lesson 1 of 4
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep

How`could`the
statue's`shadow
move?

TRY IT OUT: If it’s sunny where you are, you can try the same experiment. Put a paper gnome in the sun. Tape paper underneath the gnome and outline the shadow. Write down the time. You’ll come back later to check on your experiment.

Gnome Statue at Window

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Activity: Where's the Shadow?

For this activity, you'll need:

  • an outdoor area with blacktop or pavement
  • a sunny day
  • sidewalk chalk

Have students choose the shadow of a wall or building that makes a straight line. Mark that line with chalk.

Ask students to guess where the shadow will be in fifteen minutes & mark their prediction with chalk.

While waiting for 15 minutes to pass, try the "Shadow Partners" activity.

Activity: Shadow Partners

When you are outdoors on a sunny day, have students work with a partner to answer these questions.

  • Can you touch your partner’s shadow without touching your partner? Can you make your shadow touch your partner’s shadow?

  • Can you and your partner make a shadow that looks like a person with four arms?

  • What’s the most interesting shadow you can find? Do all the shadows you find look like the objects that cast them?

Slide Image
Slide Image

shadow


1 of 6

a dark shape made when an object is in front of a light source
Slide Image

Sun


2 of 6

the large ball of light in the sky during the day
Slide Image

sunlight


3 of 6

light from the Sun

sunrise


4 of 6

when the Sun appears in the morning

sunset


5 of 6

when the Sun disappears in the evening
Slide Image

experiment


6 of 6

a test used to discover new information about a question

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
girl discovering her shadow by The Hills
dog chasing his shadow by Rumble Viral
boy running away from his shadows by berge95
shaddow puppet hands by Unripe Content , used under CC BY
lighthouse shadow on the beach by Janx , used under Public Domain
shadow of a fence by Phil Kalina , used under CC BY
Ira Hayes memorial by Marine 69-71 , used under CC BY-SA
timelapse of tree shadows by TimeLAPSE
door shadows timelapse by Mick Abdou
sunrise timelapse by Beachfront B-Roll: Free Stock Footage , used under CC BY
sunset timelapse by Visual Uplift , used under CC BY
sun in the sky by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Pakhnyushchy
Activity
decorative gnomes in the backyard by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Olgysha

Featured Reviews

“The first graders loved being able to manipulate the flashlight themselves. It was also an excellent opportunity to observe their visual-spacial awareness, problem solving, and group work skills. ”
“The kids asked to do it again the next day. :) I LOVELOVELOVE the easy set up and that the videos take them through most of it without too much of my help. I can watch what they're doing instead of lecturing to them from afar.”
“This was my first time using Mystery Science. I did this lesson with my 1 st grade science class, and it was amazing! They loved the videos, and it kept them engaged. We had great discussions and then they LOVED using flashlights to match the patterns for the gnome statues. I LOVED that this lesson had everything I needed and that the gnome printables were easy to assemble. My students also drew great shadow observations in their science journals. Thanks for making such amazing, high quality lessons!”
“I love how the students stayed actively engaged with the video and discussion. They especially loved the video of the little kids and dog playing with their shadows. It got them excited to go trace their own shadows!”
“The videos were excellent. The hands on experimentation with flashlights in small groups was the most fun for the students. ”
“My students went home talking about shadows. We even ended our lesson with looking at our own shadows and making them bigger and smaller!”
“My kids voted to miss recess so that we could complete the unit!!!”
“ALL the students were engaged. That's right, ALL! The introductory lesson was excellent and the activity was so exciting that the students happily waited for their turn at the shadow stations. Like any lesson, I adjusted it to meet my students' needs. Thank you!”
“This was so much fun! I let the kids take home the nomes and the shadow sheets - and to see their thinking of *why* the shadow moved on a statue with out the statue moving was so cool! ”
“It was amazing to watch it unfold just perfectly for their minds. It was engaging, easy, and really taught them about shadows. I can't wait to do more!”
“My students loved doing the gnome shadows. My principal was impressed with the grade level reading that went with the lesson.”
“My 2 children really enjoyed doing the experiment and could do it with minimal help which made them proud.”
“Students were engaged and even took what they learned out to recess. At morning recess they looked at the shadows and made predictions on where the shadows would be at their lunch recess. ”
“The kids were so sure that there was no way a statues' shadow could move. They were amazed when we set out the gnomes and got to move the shadows! ”
“This is wonderful. The interactive activities really get the kids thinking and working together well.”
“The kids had a blast charting the changes in the shadows outside. Thank you for the printables that go along with the lessons!”
“My kids loved watching the gnome's shadow move as the day went on; they checked on it many times! ”
Lesson narration:

Grade 1

Day Patterns

Sun, Shadows, & Daily Patterns

1-ESS1-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students investigate what it takes to make a stationary object’s shadow move. In the activity, Moving Shadows, students use flashlights and paper gnomes to explore how moving the position of a light makes shadows move. Students relate these observations to shadows changing throughout the day and the Sun’s position moving across the sky.
Preview activity

Exploration

7 mins

Wrap-Up

3 mins

Grade 1

Day Patterns

Sun, Shadows, & Daily Patterns

1-ESS1-1

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Sun Shadows Lesson 1: Could a statue's shadow move?

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