Early Science  /  Shadows  /  Videos  /  Activity

Outdoor Shadows

 

Shadows
Videos

Children watch and discuss the video Outdoor Shadows and make a list of some activities they would like to try outside.

Side view of a teacher sitting on a chair in front of students, who are seated on the floor. He is showing something on an iPad. A teacher sits on a chair in front of students, who are seated on the floor. He is showing a video on an iPad.

In the video Outdoor Shadows, children explore their shadows outdoors.

As we watch, think about things we could try the next time we go outdoors.

 

Materials

  • Outdoor Shadows video on iPads (1 for Circle Time, several for Learning Center)
  • Projector (if available)
  • Lesson 9:
  • Flashlight
  • Shadow surface (large sheet of white paper or cardboard, a blank wall, etc.)
  • Objects to rotate, such as a book, cell phone, iPad, cardboard circle

Preparation

  1. Familiarize yourself with the video Outdoor Shadows.
  2. If using, set up a projector to display the iPad.
  3. Lesson 9: Set up a shadow surface and place the flashlight and objects in the Circle Time area.
 

Directions: Lesson 3

Circle Time: Introduction
  1. Tell children that they are going to watch a video called Outdoor Shadows, which shows children exploring shadows outside—just like they have been doing. As they watch the video, they should look for some shadow activities that they would like to try.
  2. After the video, invite children to think about what interesting shadow activities they noticed. Encourage children to build on their classmates’ ideas.
  3. Watch the video again and have children clap when they see a shadow activity that looks interesting or fun. Pause the video to discuss.
  4. If children do not clap for the zigzag shadows on the stairs or the children creating a shadow with many arms, pause at those frames and engage in discussion. Possible discussion ideas:
    • Why do you think the boy’s shadow looks zigzaggy?
    • What surfaces do we have outside that might make our shadows look zigzaggy?
    • How do you think the children made a shadow with all these wiggling arms?
    • Do you think you could make a shadow like that when we go outside? How many children will you need?
Learning Center
  1. Invite children to rewatch the Outdoor Shadows video and observe what happens closely.
  2. As you stop by this center, engage children in conversation to describe the shadows they observe and to make connections to shadow explorations the class did themselves, inspired by this video. Use similar prompts as above.
 

Directions: Lesson 9

Circle Time: Introduction
  1. Rewatch the Outdoor Shadows video with a specific viewing focus: to notice and discuss the changing shadow of the hula hoop as the girl rotates it.
  2. Ask children to share their observations, ask:
    • What is happening to make the shadow change from a wide circle to a thin line?
    • What objects can we use to explore making wide and thin shadows?
  1. Invite volunteers to explore making wide and thin shadows using one of the objects.
Length of Play

5 min.

Group Size
In the Schedule
 
Vocabulary
  • compare
  • describe
  • rotate
  • shadow
  • surface
  • thin
  • wide
 
Learning Goals
Science
  • Observe and describe how a shadow changes when the blocker is moved closer to or farther from the light source (shadow becomes bigger if the blocker moves closer to the light and smaller the blocker moves farther away from the light).
  • Observe and describe how shadows cast on multiple surfaces (e.g., floor and wall) will look different than shadows cast on only one surface (e.g., just a wall).