[Helen Stafford]

Activity Set: The Sun and Shadow – 2nd Class

I would aim to introduce the “Sun and Shadow” activity set to my 2nd Class  in a way that supports both scientific understanding and child-led enquiry. The topic of shadows is one that naturally sparks curiosity, and I see this activity set as an excellent opportunity to build on that wonder with structured, yet hands-on, learning.

I plan to take an enquiry-based approach, encouraging the children to ask their own questions and explore the answers through observation and experimentation. I believe this helps develop critical thinking and supports a deeper understanding of scientific concepts at this level.

To begin, I will start with a classroom discussion about what shadows are and when the children notice them. I will pose a simple question like:
“Why do our shadows change during the day?”
This will act as the central enquiry question and guide our investigations.

The core activity will involve the children going outside at intervals during the school day (morning, midday, afternoon) to trace their shadows using chalk. This will allow them to directly observe the changes in shadow length and direction. I’ll pair this with a simple recording sheet for drawing and noting observations.

To help make sense of what they’ve observed, I will use a lamp and toy figures indoors to model how the sun’s position in the sky causes shadows to move and change. This visual aid should help bridge the gap between experience and understanding, especially for visual and kinaesthetic learners.

As a creative extension, students will be invited to write or draw a short comic titled “The Adventures of My Shadow”, imagining their shadow moving and changing throughout the day. This will help consolidate their learning in a cross-curricular way.

I will encourage children to use scientific language (e.g. light source, shadow, sun position, longer/shorter) and guide them in drawing conclusions from what they see. Pair and group work will be emphasised to build collaboration and communication.

To support differentiation, I’ll provide extra scaffolding for children who need it, such as sentence starters or labelled diagrams, while allowing more able students to investigate further questions, such as how weather (e.g. clouds) affects shadows.

I believe this activity set will be a valuable learning experience that blends science with creativity, and I’m excited to see how the children respond to it.

 

[Helen Stafford]

Enquiry-Based Activity: “What Would It Be Like to Live on the Moon?”
Class Level: 2nd Class

Big Question (Enquiry Focus):
“What would it be like to live on the Moon?”

Steps of the Enquiry:
1. Ignite Curiosity
Show the class a short video clip or images of astronauts on the Moon.
Ask:”What do you see?”
“What questions do you have about the Moon?”

2. Question Generation
As a class, brainstorm questions. Write them on a large “Space Wonder Wall.”
Example questions:
How do astronauts breathe on the Moon?
Can you grow food there?
Is it night or day on the Moon?
What would we eat or wear?

3. Research & Investigation
Split the class into small groups. Assign each group a question to explore. Use:
Age-appropriate books
Teacher-prepared fact cards
Safe websites or videos
Models or visual aids
Each group gathers simple facts to answer their question.

4. Creative Response
Each group presents their findings in a creative way:

Make a Moon Habitat drawing
Role-play astronauts preparing for a Moon mission
Write a short story or journal entry: “A Day in My Life on the Moon”

5. Reflection & Discussion
Revisit the Big Question: “What would it be like to live on the Moon?”
Have students reflect on what they learned.
Encourage them to ask follow-up questions.

Learning Outcomes:
Students develop questioning and research skills

Gain basic understanding of the Moon and space living conditions

Practice working in groups and communicating ideas

Apply imagination and scientific thinking to a real-world context

[Helen Stafford]

Hi I will be teaching 2nd class next year.

My space fact is The Milky Way galaxy, where our solar system resides, is so large that it takes our solar system 230 million years to complete one orbit!!!!!

[Helen Stafford]

Super resources- will certainly add those to my bank for September. Thank yoU.

[Author]

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