Materials Needed:
- A toy of your choice
- A writing utensil (pen, pencil, marker, etc…)
- A piece of paper
- A sunny window
- Place a piece of paper in front of a sunny window.
- Place your toy of choice on the piece of paper.
- Use your writing utensil to outline the toy’s shadow on the paper.
- Color in your drawing and have fun!
- Repeat these instructions at different times during the day. What changes do you see in your toy’s shadow?
What’s Happening?
A shadow is a dark area or shape produced when an object (like your toy) blocks the path of light. Over the course of the day, shadows change in size and length. Why is that?
Due to our planet’s constant movement (rotation to be specific), it appears that the sun is moving across the sky. As the sun appears in different positions in the sky, our shadows change as a result. An object will have a larger shadow when it is closer to a light source (like the sun) and it will have a smaller shadow when it is further from its light source.
Watch this video to find out more!
