**** Can You Make A Sun? & Can You See Your Shadow?****

What is our theme? 
Earth Science, Fine motor scissor skills, Observations 


What is the lesson (overall purpose)?  

• work with children to create a sundial, place it in the Sun, then go outside at different times and record the movement of the sundial’s shadow. Encourage children to think of explanations for why the shadow is moving.

MA Guidelines/Standards:
PreK-ESS1-2 (MA). Observe and use evidence to describe that the sun is in different places in the sky during the day.
PreK-PS4-2 (MA). Connect daily experience and investigations to demonstrate the relationships between the size and shape of shadows, the objects creating the shadow, and the light source. 

Learning Outcomes:

• go outdoors at different times of the day to observe the position of the sun in the sky and represent their perspectives with drawings.
• observe the shadows of trees or other stationary objects in the morning and outline them with sidewalk chalk and return in the afternoon to see if the shadows have changed in any way.
• trace the outline of their own shadows at different times of the day, and then discuss changes and why they think the changes occurred.
• trace the outlines of their own shadows and compare/contrast them. Return later and try to identify whose shadow is whose.
• experiment with ways to “lose” their shadows or change the shape of their shadows. 
• create shadows using a light source and explore how the shadows change shape and size. Explore shadows created by shadow puppets, hands, etc.

Songs, Books & Videos (Motivational Techniques)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1gLMMjpvrA - Sun Book 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBnDKfHtcd0 - Sun Song 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L52xSUtJNg - Shadow Book 

Materials:
Making Your Own Sun 

• Paper 
• Scissors
• Coloring Tools 

Your Shadow 

• Paper 
• Coloring Tools 
• Natural Outside Sun 
• Toy that stands up and/or an object you can trace 

Activity (Procedure):
Making Your Own Sun 

1. Gather materials 
2. Draw a circle on a piece of paper 
3. Cut out the circle with adult supervision 
4. Draw a circle in the middle of the big circle you just cut out 
5. Start cutting straight lines with adult supervision. Do not cut the paper in half, stop cutting when your scissors reach the smaller circle in the middle.
6. Repeat around the circle until you have finished!
7. Color/decorate the sun

Your Shadow 

1. Gather materials 
2. Bring paper and coloring tools outside during a sunny day 
3. Lay the paper flat and place your object on the paper to create a shadow 
4. Trace the shadow of the object 
5. When done tracing, remove object and observe your shadow tracing 
6. If you would like to - color your object you traced to match the actual object!

Activity Wrap Up:
Working on scissor skills 

How do I know what my child is learning? (Assessment)

• help children to observe the location of the sun related to routines in their lives (e.g., where is the sun in the sky when you get up in the morning? Where is it when you get home from school?”), including the intensity and location of sunlight entering the classroom at various times of the day.

How can you extend this activity? (Modifications)
Making Your Own Sun 

• If you do  not have scissor, you can rip the paper 
• Have an adult draw a dotted S in the middle of the sun, have child then trace the S 

Your Shadow 

• If it is not a sunny day where you are unable to see a shadow, you can use a light in your home, or try at night with a light and see if you get the same results. 
• You could always trace hands, heads, legs, etc. then recreate the features on your face with your coloring tools 
• If you have a driveway/patio and chalk, this would be a great group activity to do with family members. 

Helpful Hints: (Pitfalls & Solutions)
Making Your Own Sun - see modifications above
Your Shadow - see modifications above 

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