Hi I’m Aoife and I will be teaching Infants in September. I am looking forward to gaining more insight into space. One of my favourite space facts is the number of stars in the Milky Way is probably higher than the number of humans that have ever been born. This shows how incredibly vast space is and that there is so much to learn but also so much is still unknown.
One inquiry-based lesson that I enjoy doing with my classes is exploring how shadows are formed and how their properties change based on the position and distance of the light source, the object creating the shadow, and the surface on which the shadow is cast.
Activity: Investigating Shadows
I usually start with a brief discussion about shadows. Show examples of shadows in different settings (e.g., outdoors under the sun, indoors with a lamp).
I ask the children what they already know about shadows and how they think shadows are formed.
I like to generate questions about shadows like-
How does the position of the light source affect the shape and size of the shadow?What happens to the shadow if the object moves closer to or farther from the light source?
How do different objects create different shadows?
I usually divide the class into small groups of 3 or 4. Each group picks one question to investigate.
Each group then discusses their question and predicts the outcome of their investigation.
Each group gets a light source i.e. a torch and various objects (toys, shapes, everyday items), a white surface (paper or a wall), rulers, and notebooks for recording observations.
Each group sets up its light source and places an object between the light and the white surface to create a shadow.
Groups conduct their experiments by changing the position and distance of the light source and the object. They will observe and record how the shadow changes in size, shape, and clarity.
I like to encourage the children in younger classes to draw the shadows they observe. Older classes can measure the length of the shadows using rulers.
The groups present their findings to the class and compare their results of the other groups. Discuss why shadows change based on the position and distance of the light source and object.
This inquiry-based activity not only teaches children about how shadows are formed and manipulated, but also engages them in the scientific process, promoting critical thinking, collaboration, and hands-on learning.