Science: Day Night and Changing Shadows Part Two
Exploring how Earth, the Sun, and shadows change during the day
Science: Day Night and Changing Shadows Part Two
Exploring how Earth, the Sun, and shadows change during the day
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
In the morning, the Sun looks low in the sky. What can happen to the shadow of a tree when the Sun is low?
Think about how your shadow looks early in the morning.
When the Sun is low in the sky, the tree's shadow can be long because the sunlight hits the tree from a low angle. - 2
At noon, the Sun is usually higher in the sky than it is in the morning. How is a person's shadow usually different at noon?
At noon, a person's shadow is usually shorter because the Sun is higher in the sky and shines down more directly. - 3
A student checks a flagpole shadow at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. The shadow is longest at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and shortest at 12:00 p.m. What does this show about the Sun's position during the day?
Long shadows happen when the Sun is lower in the sky.
This shows that the Sun appears low in the sky in the morning and afternoon and higher in the sky around noon. - 4
Why do we have daytime on the side of Earth facing the Sun?
We have daytime on the side of Earth facing the Sun because that side is receiving sunlight. - 5
Why do we have nighttime on the side of Earth facing away from the Sun?
The Sun does not shine on all of Earth at the same time.
We have nighttime on the side of Earth facing away from the Sun because that side is not receiving direct sunlight. - 6
Earth spins, or rotates, once each day. How does Earth's rotation help explain day and night?
Imagine slowly turning a ball in front of a lamp.
Earth's rotation helps explain day and night because places on Earth turn toward the Sun for daytime and turn away from the Sun for nighttime. - 7
Mia notices that her shadow points one way in the morning and a different way in the afternoon. Why does the shadow's direction change?
The shadow's direction changes because the Sun appears to move across the sky during the day, so the light comes from different directions. - 8
A class wants to measure a shadow safely outside. Name one tool they could use and one safety rule they should follow.
Choose a tool that measures length.
They could use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the shadow, and they should not look directly at the Sun. - 9
Look at a playground pole at three times of day. Which shadow would most likely belong to noon: the longest shadow, the medium shadow, or the shortest shadow? Explain your answer.
The shortest shadow would most likely belong to noon because the Sun is usually highest in the sky around that time. - 10
Complete the pattern: morning shadow is long, noon shadow is short, afternoon shadow is usually ______. Explain your answer.
Compare afternoon to morning.
The afternoon shadow is usually long again because the Sun is lower in the sky later in the day. - 11
A flashlight shines on a toy block from the left side. Where will the block's shadow form?
A shadow is made where the light is blocked.
The block's shadow will form on the opposite side, to the right of the block, because shadows form away from the light source. - 12
Explain why a shadow can help you learn where the light is coming from.
A shadow can help you learn where the light is coming from because the shadow points away from the light source. - 13
Draw or describe an investigation to show how a shadow changes when the Sun's position changes. Include what you would observe.
Use the same object each time so the shadow changes are caused by the Sun's position.
One investigation is to place a stick in the ground and trace its shadow in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. I would observe that the shadow changes length and direction during the day.