Follow the Shadow

Materials Required:

• Poem

• Paper

• Markers

• Sidewalk chalk (if drawings are done on a sidewalk instead of paper)

• Compass

• Tape measure or yard stick/meter stick

• Stuffed animal, plastic animal, or other object that is at least 5 inches tall

Procedure:

Today, you'll each be keeping track of the time, location of the sun, direction of the shadow, and the length of the shadow, measured to the nearest inch. One of the most important rules to remember today is: don't look directly at the sun as it can hurt your eyes. 

            1. Read "My Shadow" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Does a shadow really change during the day? Make predictions about what you think will happen to if you keep track of shadows during a day. Write your predictions so you can read them again later in the day.

            2.  Find a spot that will be in the sun all day. Draw around the base of your object to mark the spot. Each time you go outside today, the animal will be placed in the exact same spot.   

3.    Tape a piece of paper down and set the object in the center of the paper.

4.    Draw around the shadow made by your object.

5.    Repeat the process every hour between 9:00 and 3:00 if possible.

6.    Make sure to label each shadow with the time so that you can look back and make accurate observations.

7.    Whenever you go outside, always start by tracing and measuring the shadow. Next get the location of the sun and direction of the shadow. Enter your data into the chart provided.

8.    Following each observation make a note about what you are observing with the shadows.