Project details: Shadow Length & Direction
NGSS Standard - 5-ESS1-2 "Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows"
My students investigated how the position of the Sun affects the length and direction of shadows throughout the day. Their essential question for the lesson was: "How does the position of the Sun affect the length and direction of shadows?"
We reviewed the Scientific Method and each student was required to develop a hypothesis to predict at what position the shadows would be the longest and the shortest. They used flashlights to simulate the Sun shining at different times of the day against the protractor. For example, shining the flashlight at 30 degrees on the protractor represented sunlight in the early morning, whereas shining it at 90 degrees represented noon with the Sun high overhead, and shining it at 150 degrees represented early evening. They used figurines (as seen in the pictures) borrowed from my grandson Caiden such as Patrick from SpongeBob Square Pants or Woody from Toy Story.
They measured the length of the shadow cast by the figurine while shining the light at five different angles on the protractor. They measured the length of the shadows in centimeters which allowed them to practice linear measurements according to 4th/5th Grade Math Standards. They created a bar graph to display their data and answered several questions that required them to analyze their data. They also wrote a written constructed response question similar to what they will encounter on their ELA State Test in the spring that required them to compare and contrast shadow lengths based on two pictures showing the knowledge they have gained from this lesson. They really enjoyed this challenging hands-on activity!
The lesson also included a connection to our Social Studies Geography unit in that they had to use the compass rose on the "shadow tracker" to determine the direction the shadows went while using the flashlight against the protractor. This is part of the NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea as Follows: The orbit of Earth around the Sun, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South Poles, cause "observable patterns," including daily changes in the length and direction of shadows.
