Shadows in the Schoolyard

Lesson Plans

GradesK, 1, 2, 3, 4Science, English Language Arts, Mathematics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education

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What it is

In this lesson, students determine what happens to shadows throughout the day, why shadows vary in length depending on the time of day, and why shadows disappear at times.
Students will measure and record shadow length and direction multiple times throughout the day, and a table is included to help tabulate results.

Teaching tips

Positives

Several extension activities are included and the resource takes great care to help students notice trends as days and seasons progress.

Prerequisites

Students will need an "energy learning log" to record their learning. This can be a formal graphic organizer or a simple notebook page.
Teachers may want to explain that the sun's position in the sky shifts due to Earth's rotation.
The assessment portion references an energy flow mural, which is not included or explained in this lesson plan.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students can discuss how the changing location of the sun in the sky may impact the use of solar energy, and the solution to this. Students may also want to discuss wind energy, which is also driven by the energy of the sun.
In math classes, students can create graphs to show the length of the shadows at various times in the day or answer math questions to compare two different lengths at different times.
In language arts classes, students can write a play or story about the mystery of the disappearing shadow. They can also read other mysteries to learn more about the genre.
Students can either use standard measurements of length or measure with a piece of string or other objects, so long as all students use the same method for each shadow.
Advanced students can connect this phenomenon with the orbit of the Earth, the tilt of the Earth, and the seasons.
This activity is part of KEEP's K-6 Solar Tilt Kit lesson, where students will learn how solar panels generate electricity and use KEEP's Solar Tilt Kit to determine the factors that impact the amount of electricity generated by a solar panel.

From the scientist review

This resource is a classroom activity from Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) that tasks students with observing shadows and how they change in time. This resource is an educational and fun outdoor activity and is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: K, 1, 2, 3, 4
Subjects: Science, English Language Arts, Mathematics
Other types: Assessments, Worksheets, Activity - Outdoors
Format: PDF
Language: English
Location: Earth, North America > United States > Wisconsin
Provider: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
Authors: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point K-12 Energy Education Program
Published: July 28, 2023
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.1 + 52 more

Core

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.1With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.3With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.10Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.10Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.2Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.3Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.4Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.5Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.1Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is...).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.3Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.3Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.5Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.2Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.3Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to gather additional information or clarify something that is not understood.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.5Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.6Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.3Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.8With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.5Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.6Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.1Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.8Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.5Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.6Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.5Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.2Measure the length of an object twice, using length units of different lengths for the two measurements; describe how the two measurements relate to the size of the unit chosen.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.3Estimate lengths using units of inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.4Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.B.5Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve word problems involving lengths that are given in the same units, e.g., by using drawings (such as drawings of rulers) and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

1-ESS1-1.Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.

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