Shadow-play

How do shadows change during the day?

Think carefully about the best place to carry out this investigation - you do not want anyone falling onto your stick.

PLAN

Set up a stick in the middle of a large piece of paper.

Mark where its shadow is at different times of the day.

How often will you mark the shadow?

When is the best time to carry out this investigation?

I WILL NEED

A really large piece of paper.

A stick - and some way to fix it upright.

Pencil.

I MAY NEED

FAIR TEST

How will you make sure that your stick does not get moved - or knocked over - or messed with?

PREDICTION

What do you think will happen to the stick's shadow through the day?

Why do you think so?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

Did you have any problems with the weather?

How did you overcome these problems?

COLLECT

DATA

How often will you mark the shadow position?

ANALYSE

DATA

Do your marks form any kind of pattern?

What do your results tell you about the movement of the Sun?

PRESENT

FINDINGS

Can you explain your results clearly?

Could you take some photographs?

Could you set up a demonstration in a darkened room using a torch as the Sun?

EVALUATE

INVESTIGATION

Did anything go wrong with this investigation?

If you were going to do this investigation again, what would you do to improve it?

If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website.  It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post.  Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.

SUN PROJECTS