In Science, we are physicists for this half term. Physicists study forces and energy. We are currently learning about light. In our recent experiment, we looked at what creates shadow, how the shape of a shadow is created and what can affect the length of a shadow.
At the start of the lesson, the children enjoyed some time to explore shadows both inside and outside.
We then when on to investigate how what will happen to our shadow at different times during the day. Now due to it not being a very sunny day, we recreated this experiment and substituted the sun for a torch and our bodies for glue sticks.
Independent variable: the length of the shadow
Dependent variable: the time of day that we are looking at the shadow.
Control variable: the person whose shadow is being measure.
The children noticed when the position of the Sun in the sky changes, the angle of the light rays changes. Therefore, the length of the shadow increases.
Help at home: Can your child explain what is going on is the picture below? Can they also describe how a solar eclipse happens?
