All lessons › Light and shadows › Lesson 1
Australian primary science · Year 5 · Lesson 1 of 3
Shadow maker
Inquiry question: How can we make a shadow bigger?
Marked no materials needed
Pattern seeking
What students learn
Light travels from a source in straight lines. An opaque object blocks light and makes a shadow. The closer an object is to the light, the bigger its shadow.
Success criteria
- I can measure and record shadow heights.
- I can describe the pattern between distance and shadow size.
- I can explain shadows using straight lines of light.
Preparation and materials
Before this lesson: Students know a shadow forms when something blocks light.
- iPads with Bottlebrush Education open (nothing else needed) — 13 (one per pair)
- Projector or big screen — 1
Teacher setup
- Open Forces & energy › Lab › Shadow maker on your screen to demonstrate.
- Check the iPads are charged.
Safety and adaptations
Follow school science and equipment risk assessment procedures for the materials used.
Review your school policies and curriculum requirements before teaching.
How to investigate
The lesson sequence should leave pupils with evidence to interpret, not only an activity to finish.
- Pairs choose Cardboard and measure the shadow at 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm.
- Record each shadow height.
- Tap the dots on the line graph and describe the pattern.
- Test Baking paper and Clear plastic and describe each shadow.
- Play Let the light through? and sort each material.
Teacher modelling prompt
On the big screen, tap a prediction first (Measure and record stays greyed out until you do). Then choose Cardboard and 10 cm and press Measure and record. Think aloud: “The puppet is 10 cm from the torch and the shadow is about 50 cm tall.” Try 40 cm: “About 13 cm. So far: closer to the torch, bigger shadow. I need more readings to be sure it’s a pattern.”
Record and explain evidence
Recording question: How can we make a shadow bigger?
| Puppet material | Distance from torch (cm) | Shadow (height in cm, or how it looks) |
|---|---|---|
| ________________ | ________________ | ________________ |
Example recording headings; record actual observations, including inconclusive results.
Discussion prompt
The puppet stayed 10 cm tall. Whose explanation fits the evidence?
Check understanding
What should pupils know? Why does an opaque object make a shadow?
Explain with evidence: Describe the pattern in your shadow data, using numbers.
Apply the idea: You want a huge dinosaur shadow on the wall. Where do you hold the puppet, and why?
Teacher answer guidance and saved classroom work are available through the main lesson experience where supported.