Lesson Plan Description

Learning about light and shadows

Students will be engaged in hands-on activities that involve investigating light and the way shadows are made. They will analyze their findings and present to the class. The project will link IBL with traditional teaching by giving teachers options to best suit the needs of the class. More questions will emerge to continue scientific investigations and further the learning process.

hands creating shadows on wall

Grade Level

Pre-K

Time Requirement

2 days, 30 minutes each day

Download lesson plan

.pdf

Practical Application

This experiment allows students to understand how shadows are formed and how light affects them. Each student will have practice with the scientific process, including documenting and interpreting data.

Objectives

  1. Incorporate the process of inquiry-based learning into a traditional direct instruction classroom setting.
  2. Students will be able to use multiple means to find answers to their questions, including but not limited to participating in the inquiry experience, reading information from primary and secondary sources, watching videos, and talking with more knowledgeable individuals in their community.
  3. Students will be able to identify that a shadow is made by blocking light from touching the surface.
  4. Students will be able to design an experiment to answer a comparative question.
  5. Students will be able to complete steps in investigating shadows.
  6. Students will be able to uncover additional questions and think critically about the data found.

Educational Standards

Physical Science, Explorations of Energy: With modeling and support, explore the properties and characteristics of sound and light.