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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes

How shadows form when light is blocked

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.1-PS4-3England: KS2 Y3 Light

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How shadows form when light is blocked.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Why we need light to see things

Leads to: Make a shadow bigger or smaller; Clear, cloudy or blocking? How much light gets through

Materials: Slinky or rope, Mirrors and torches, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Why we need light to see things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Why can you see a book on your desk? (Light from a lamp or the Sun bounces off the book into your eyes. / Books glow in the dark. / The book makes its own light. / Your eyes send out light onto the book.) → Light from a lamp or the Sun bounces off the book into your eyes.Prompt: Does a book give out its own light?
  2. True or false? Most things we see do not make their own light. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where does the light start, and where must it end?
  3. You go into a room with no windows and shut the door. The light is off. What can you see? (only red things / everything, but in black and white / only shiny things / nothing at all) → nothing at allPrompt: What is missing from the room?

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: How shadows form when light is blocked. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why is the shape of a shadow the same outline as the object?
  • Step 1: Straight-line light makes a dark shape matching the object's outline.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Light travels in straight lines, so it is blocked exactly where the object is.
  • Answer: Light travels in straight lines, so it is blocked exactly where the object is.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. On a cloudy day with no sunshine, why is it hard to see your shadow? (The light comes from all over the sky, so it is not blocked in one place. / People have no shadows in winter. / Shadows only happen at night. / The clouds take your shadow away.) → The light comes from all over the sky, so it is not blocked in one place.Prompt: A sharp shadow needs light coming from one direction.
  2. True or false? Shadows are made of black paint. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: What does an object do to light to make a shadow?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Shadows: which statement is true? (Shadows point towards the light. / The shadow of a cup has the shape of a triangle. / If you move the torch (flashlight) to the left, the shadow moves to the right. / A shadow shows your face and your eyes.) → If you move the torch (flashlight) to the left, the shadow moves to the right.Prompt: Picture a torch, a toy and a wall.
  2. Why is the shape of a shadow the same outline as the object? (Light travels in straight lines, so it is blocked exactly where the object is. / Shadows are photos of the object. / Light bends around the object. / The object paints its shape.) → Light travels in straight lines, so it is blocked exactly where the object is.Prompt: Does light curve round corners?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Why we need light to see things.
  • Use concrete materials: slinky or rope.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Make a shadow bigger or smaller; Clear, cloudy or blocking? How much light gets through.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-1.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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How shadows form when light is blocked

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? You can make a shadow without any light.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Your shadow always points away from…

    • A. the ground
    • B. your friends
    • C. the light source
    • D. the nearest tree

  3. Question 3

    Shadows: which statement is true?

    • A. If you move the torch (flashlight) to the left, the shadow moves to the right.
    • B. Shadows point towards the light.
    • C. A shadow shows your face and your eyes.
    • D. The shadow of a cup has the shape of a triangle.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Shadows are on the opposite side of an object from the light.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Which of these is needed to make a shadow?

    • A. a mirror and some water
    • B. a light source and an object that blocks light
    • C. a loud noise
    • D. only a dark room

  6. Question 6

    True or false? A shadow shows the outline of an object but not its colours.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    Why is the shape of a shadow the same outline as the object?

    • A. The object paints its shape.
    • B. Light travels in straight lines, so it is blocked exactly where the object is.
    • C. Shadows are photos of the object.
    • D. Light bends around the object.

  8. Question 8

    True or false? A shadow forms when an object blocks light.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: How shadows form when light is blocked

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. C. the light source

  3. 3. A. If you move the torch (flashlight) to the left, the shadow moves to the right.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. B. a light source and an object that blocks light

  6. 6. A. True

  7. 7. B. Light travels in straight lines, so it is blocked exactly where the object is.

  8. 8. A. True