Shadows

This activity invites K–5 students, in both English and Spanish, to explore the phenomena of shadows and investigate the question, “How can you change shadows?” Students can work with shadow phenomena outdoors, indoors, or both to figure out how to change the size, shape, and position of a shadow. This activity supports the 1st grade science standard on light and shadow.

Teachers can use this activity in virtual or in-person environments, with minimal prep time and common household materials. Slides scaffolding the student experience can be modified to suit different learning contexts.The accompanying Teacher Support Guide contains suggestions for how to use the activity, support for sense-making discussions, content background, and connections to ELA, math, and the 1st grade science standard.