I. Curricular Framework

Concept:

Cause and Effect

Essential Question:

How are shadows formed?

Bridge:

Me and My Shadow

Content:

Shadows and Light Sources

Outcomes:

II. Standards Aligned

III. Instruction and Assessment

1. Connect: Connecting to the Concept Experientially

Objective: To have the children experiment with light sources and discover their own observations about shadows.

Activity: Using a light source (film projector works best), allow the children to experiment making their own shadows. Allow for ample time for each child to be able to freely explore the light source as well as the results of their bodies interacting with the light source.

Assessment: Observe the children and their responses to use in next activity.

2. Attend: Attending to the Connection

Objective: To accumulate and share the children's responses and discoveries during the initial exploratory activity.

Activity: Make an information chart about what the children discovered during their explorations. Ask the children how they felt about making the shadows. Ask the children how shadows make them feel.

Assessment: Keep the information chart displayed around the room so children can add on to it as the unit progresses.

Assessment, Phase One, Level of Engagement, Fascination:

3. Image: Creating a Mental Picture

Objective: To have the children experience what it would be like to be a shadow and to introduce them to the experience of shadows being related to themselves.

Activity: Have the students pair. One child will be the leader and the other child will be the shadow. The children take turns leading their respective shadows around the room.

Assessment: Observe the children in each of their roles and watch how they enact how the shadow would act.

Assessment, Phase Two, Seeing the Big Picture:

4. Inform: Receiving Facts & Knowledge

Objective: To deliver information to the children about how shadows are made and how they are formed by interactions between an object and a light source.

Activity:
a) Have the children bring their science journals outside and have them observe neighborhood shadows and the objects that form them.
b) Watch a film on shadows.
c) Introduce the concepts of sundials and the way they work.
d.) Observe how the children arrange light sources to make and draw their own shadows. Assess drawings to be sure they include the light source, the object, and the shadow.

Assessment: Student engagement and demonstration of understanding of the concept.

Assessment, Phase Three, Success with Acquiring Knowledge:

5. Practice: Developing Skills

Objective: To reinforce information given in the second quadrant activities. To give more practice to children in making shadows.

Activity:
a) Using worksheets with shadows and objects, children practice matching shadows to the correct object which makes them.
b) Using portable light sources, have the children trace their own hand shadows with a partner. Cut the shadows out and make a class collage. c) Using flashlights, have children explore how to make different types of shadows. Have them challenge each other to create certain shadows.

Assessment: Again, teacher observation is the best way to assess that children are in fact understanding how objects and lights interact to make shadows.

Assessment, Phase Four, Success with Acquiring Skills:

6. Extend: Extending Learning to the Outside World

Objective: To allow the children to use information gathered in a creative expression.

Activity: Have the children select or create their shadow play to perform. Select or create a shadow play to perform in front of the class. Children should plan to illustrate something that they have learned about shadows and use techniques they learned on how to make the shadows they need in their play.

Assessment: Make sure each group has chosen a play and is using skills learned in class instruction to produce shadows for their plays.

7. Refine: Refining the Extension

Objective: To get the children to assess if their shadows are being created in the way they want them to be portrayed in their play.

Activity: Allow time for each child or group to rehearse their play. Make a time to meet with each group and decide how their play is going to work, whether or not they have the right materials, and what changes they need to make before their final performance.

Assessment: Conferences with children or groups.

8. Perform: Creative Manifestation of Material Learned

Objective: To allow the children an opportunity to express the new information they have learned about shadows in a creative and fun way.

Activity: Video tape final performances of shadow plays. Show video to class.

Assessment: Student assessment and feedback.

Assessment, Phase Five,Performance, Creative Use of Material Learned: