CU 3.05Light and Shadow
The child makes shadows with a flashlight and in the sun, and sorts materials by whether light passes through them.
Presentation
- 1
Darken a corner of the room. Shine the flashlight on the wall.
- 2
Hold a figure in front of the light: 'The figure blocks the light. The dark shape is a shadow.'
- 3
Move the figure closer to the light and farther away. Ask what happens to the shadow.
- 4
Invite the child to make shadows with hands and objects.
- 5
Hold clear plastic, then cardboard, in front of the light. Say which one lets light through.
- 6
Sort the test materials into 'light passes through' and 'light is blocked'.
- 7
On a sunny day, go outside, stand still, and have a partner trace the child's shadow with chalk.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Trace the same shadow in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon and compare
- Add a middle group, 'some light passes through', and name it translucent
- Put on a shadow puppet show
Control of error
The light itself: the child can see whether a shadow forms or light passes through.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Explains that a shadow forms when something blocks light
- Makes a shadow bigger or smaller on purpose
- Sorts materials correctly
Guide note
Remind children not to shine flashlights into eyes or to look at the sun.