Backyard Shadow Project
About 60 minutes, outside, for ages 5 to 7.
Where it works
Works in any outdoor space
Who it's for
ages 5 to 7
Try Tracing:
- long shadow
- shifting outlines
- the shadow of your own hand
- two shadows overlapping
- a shadow with a sharp edge
- the same shadow an hour later
Today's Challenge
- 1.Why is the shadow getting longer?
- 2.Do shapes hold their size?
- 3.What does the object look like without a shadow?
Quick Start: What you need
- 1paper
- 2pencils
- 3various objects
The Goal
Trace the shadows of toys, rocks, or plants as they shift throughout the afternoon.
How to start
- 1
Gather what you need: paper, pencils and various objects. Nothing else required.
- 2
Head outside and trace: long shadow, shifting outlines, the shadow of your own hand, two shadows overlapping.
- 3
Talk about what you made. Start with "Why is the shadow getting longer?"
- 4
Print the worksheet to plan it out and keep what you make.
Trace And Time It
Trace one shadow here and write the time beside it. Trace the same one again later on this page.
Shadows move through the day because the sun changes position in the sky, not because the object moves.
If you want to push it further
- Trace the same object twice, an hour apart, and compare
- Try tracing a shadow without looking at your paper
Print it and go
The worksheet has the checklist, the prompts, and a space to draw in. One page, ready for a bag or a glovebox.