Activity set: The Sun and shadows
There are some great activities for the junior classes in this module. I particularly liked the video on ‘Day and night’ (https://astrosociety.org/education-outreach/early-learners/early-learners.html).
1. Children sit in a circle and discuss what the sky looks like during the daytime and what allows them to see things (i.e. the sun). Show pictures of a bright sunny day with blue skies. Present picture of a cloudy day and ask the children to describe the difference and why they can still see things (sun behind the clouds). Show pictures of night time and discuss possible sources of light.
2. Attach 2 small plastic characters to the globe, one in China and one in US, darken the room and shine a torch/lamp to the globe, show the children how, due to the earth’s rotation, it is daytime in some parts of the world and night time in other parts of the world. Ask the children to mimic the earth’s movement by standing in front of the light and standing away from the light.
3. Finish off the lesson with a ‘day and night song’ and go over the elements of the lesson.
Shadows:
On a sunny day, ask the children to work in pairs to draw their shadows. later on in the day draw their shadows in the same position and compare the 2 shadows.