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Measuring Shadows
Students determine the pattern (length and direction) of shadows cast by sunlight during several month period, and develop interpretation of daily and seasonal patterns and variations observed.
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Sun
Learners study how the sun is at the center of the solar system. In this solar lesson students measure the altitude of the sun and its size.
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Cooler in the Shadows
Students explore how the amount of sunlight and heat change in areas that are shaded.
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Let the Sun Shine!
Students investigate how the sun can be used for energy. They read a handout, discuss the pros and cons of passive solar building design, develop flashcard questions, and identify jobs that can be helped by solar energy.
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Earth, Sun, and Moon
Students participate in a demonstration and complete an online activity that illustrates the earth orbits the sun once a year, and that the moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the earth.
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Shadows All Around Us
Students create shadows. In this shadow casting lesson plan, students read books about shadows, view a demonstration on shadow casting and then practice shadow casting on their own. Students cast a shadow using the position of the sun.
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My Shadow is following me
In this outer space worksheet, students read "My Shadow is following me" and learn about the Solar System and how shadows are created. They then complete the 2 students tasks and answer the 5 questions in the packet. The answers are on...
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Sundials: Observing and Using Shadows
Learners build sundials and observe changes in shadows over the course of one or more days. They identify patterns in the shadows and discuss how shadows may be used to tell time.
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Shadows
Learners measure shadows at different times of the day to determine when a shadow casts its longest and shortest shadows.
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"Bear Shadow" Activity Card
In this literature and science worksheet, students listen to a family member as they read "Bear Shadow." They conduct experiments that with light, shadows, and measuring tools before recording the date they did the experiment. They...
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Sun's Path
Young scholars explore the movement of the sun across the sky. In this science instructional activity, students use clear plastic hemispheres and markers to record how the sun moves across the sky. Young scholars write directions so the...
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Light and Shadows
In this earth science activity, students examine 6 pictures that show the sun in relation to a tree. They also see a clock and the time. They look at the position of the sun and draw the shadow of the tree in the proper position.
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Sun, Shadows, Surface Structure...and the Face on Mars
Students use light and shadow information to make inferences regarding the three dimensional shapes of specific objects photographed on the surface of Mars. Limitations of the of the data provided are discussed and entries made into the...
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Light and Shadows
Students observe and record the apperacne of shadows and how their position and shpae changes during the course of the day. Students measure and record the length oof a partner's shadow at different intervals during the day. In pairs,...
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Make a Shadow Clock
Students create a shadow clock. In this time lesson, students make their own shadow clock or sundial from tag board. They place it on the ground and check it every hour to mark where the shadow lies.
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Light and Shadows
Learners participate in an online lesson to determine how light travels from a source, and to explain that shadows form when light travelling from a source is blocked.
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Tracking the Sun with a Solar Dome
Students study the sun and how it moves throughout the day. In this tracking the sun lesson students create a model of the celestial sphere.
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Earth, Sun and Moon
Students investigate that the sun is at the center of the solar system through role play. One student is the sun and one student is the Earth. The students then show how the Earth orbits around the sun. Students view a flashlight and...
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Shadows and Skyscrapers
Eighth graders explain the relationship between the position of the sun, a city's latitude and shadow length. Ratio's, geometry, and algebra are used to determine the shadow lengths and building heights. A sun angle (altitude) charts to...
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Orbits Worksheet #1
A diagram of Earth's path around the sun, including the position of the moon, is displayed at the top of the worksheet. Five multiple questions get astronomers to analyze the diagram considering what is going on in the solar system. Use...
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May Earth be Revolving around the Sun?
Ninth graders explore how Aristarchus used the position of the half-full Moon to estimate the distance to the Sun, and how he made a great error, but still figured out that the Sun is much larger than Earth.
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Studying Shadows
Young scholars measure shadows and explore the altitude of the sun. In this sun lesson students will graph the length of shadows and solar altitude against time.
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Measuring the Sun's Diameter
Students project and measure the suns image using a refracting telescope. In this sun's diameter lesson students calculate the magnification of the telescope and determine the diameter if the Sun.
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Around the Sun We Go
Sixth graders complete a short survey on the relationship between the Earth and the Sun. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they test the angle of the Earth and compare it to the sun. To end the lesson, they discuss...