Science at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 3)
Unit 3F: Light and shadows
Section 6: Observing the position of the Sun
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Objectives |
| Children should learn: |
- that when the Sun is behind them their shadow is in front
- that the Sun appears to move across the sky in a regular way every day
- that the Sun appears highest in the sky at midday
- that the higher the Sun appears in the sky the shorter the shadow
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Activities |
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Outcomes |
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Children: |
- Take the children out in the playground on a sunny day and ask them to mark the direction their shadow is pointing in and the direction of the Sun. Remind them of the dangers of looking at the Sun. Ask children to explain what these marks show. Set up a shadow stick in the playground and mark south, east and west in relation to it. At regular times eg 9.00, 12.00, 15.00 over a period of several days mark the direction and length of the shadow and the direction of the Sun.
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- generalise that when the Sun is behind an object the shadow is in front
- state that the shadows change in a similar way each day and that shadows are shortest in the middle of the day
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Points to note |
If children are not aware of the directions north, south, east and west then a circular dial without these labels but with four marked directions at right angles to each other can be used.
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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of
activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by
moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
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