Topic – Sun and Shadows
I would incorporate this topic into a lesson in a fun and engaging way for the pupils so they can learn about the movement of the sun during the day and how it affects the size, shape and direction of the shadows produced.
Activity 1 – Toy Shadows. I would allow the pupils to bring in 3-4 of their favorite toys. Each pupil places an a3 page flat on the ground in front of the toys with the sun shining at the toy projecting its shadow onto the page. They can use a pencil to trace the shadows onto the page and then spend some time coloring them in. Later in the day they can set up the toys for a 2nd time with the page on the ground again and they will notice how the shape and size of the shadows will now be different due to the change in position of the sun.
Activity 2 – Sundial. This would be a whole class activity. First thing in the morning we make our own sundial using a paper plate with a wooden dowel standing up in the middle. The pupils are brought outside and we place the Sundial on the ground and we mark the direction of the dowels shadow on the plate using a marker. We label this line with the hour of the day e.g. 10am. Throughout the day at each hourly interval we revisit the Sundial and mark the shadow with the hour, which will showcase the rotation of the suns path throughout the day.