Early Science  /  Shadows  /  Books & Songs  /  Activity

Shadow Celebration

 

Shadows
Books & Songs

Children hold a Shadow Dance, singing some of the songs they learned in this unit.

A student dances, and watches his shadow move, on a white wall in front of him. A student turns around smiling. His shadow is visible on the wall behind him.

Hold a Shadow Dance to celebrate all you have learned about shadows.

Sing and dance. Little shadow, dance with me. Do just what I do.

 

Materials

 
Materials PDF
  • Darkened area of the room
  • Bright LED lamp or projector
  • White poster boards or a white sheet
  • Little Shadow, Dance with Me: Lyrics (PDF)
  • Optional: other song lyrics
  • Optional: music to dance to

Preparation

  1. Place the LED lamp on a table or other surface and shine it on the shadow surface. Leave space between the light and the surface for children to dance (about 4–6 feet). Adjust the position of the light so that children’s shadows will be clearly seen on the wall.
  2. Cover the wall where the children’s shadows will be cast with white poster boards or a sheet.
  3. If using other music or lyrics, familiarize yourself with them before doing the activity.
 

Directions: Lesson 12

Circle Time: Wrap-Up
  1. Celebrate the end of the Shadows Unit by setting up a Shadow Dance area and having a shadow dance. Depending on your space, you may need to have groups of children take turns dancing in the lit area between the lamp and the wall.
  2. You can provide music of your choice, and/or children can provide the music by singing “Little Shadow, Dance with Me” (below) or the other shadow songs from the unit.
    • Little shadow, dance with me
      Little shadow, dance with me
      Little shadow, dance with me
      Do just what I do.
    • Wave your arms, just like me
      Wave your arms, just like me
      Wave your arms, just like me
      Do just what I do.
    • Stamp your feet, just like me
      Stamp your feet, just like me
      Stamp your feet, just like me
      Do just what I do.
    • Shake and wiggle, just like me
      Shake and wiggle, just like me
      Shake and wiggle, just like me
      Do just what I do.
    • Little shadow, dance with me
      Little shadow, dance with me
      Little shadow, dance with me
      Do just what I do.
  3. If you wish, provide additional shadow dance prompts:
    • Dance with a partner. Combine your shadows so you have one body and four arms.
    • Dance with your hands over your head. Make the shadow of your hand touch the shadow of your partner’s hand. Don’t let your real hands touch!
Length of Play

5–10 min.

Group Size
In the Schedule
 
Vocabulary
  • light
  • shadow
  • surface
 
Learning Goals
Science
  • Observe and describe shadows (identify the light source, the object that blocks the light, and the shadow or darker area on the surface on the opposite side of the light source).
  • Observe and describe combined shadows.