Year Six Activities

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION INTO SHADOWS

Mr France - one of our SCITT trainees introduced the idea of a camping trip to the Rainforest, to Mrs Addis' class.
They had to work out a way of finding out how close a wild animal was to their tent so that they could escape - through the back of the tent - before it could pose any real danger to them.

In groups the children discussed all sorts of posibilities but eventually came up with the idea of using shadow cast by the fire on the side of the tent to judge distance away from the tent.

The children then organised their thoughts by deciding what factors they would keep the same and which they would change, making sure that what they did was a fair test.

Once they had organised the investigation the children then made small animals out of black card and stuck them on a stick. These would be used to represent the wild animal in the scenario.

 

 

 

 

Just a sample of the animals that were made.

All the groups worked very well together.

This is one group's planning grid and their animal, ready to begin the investigation.

Mr France set up the 'tents' in the hall ready for the practical part of the investigation.

Each group used a torch - represent the fire - and shone it onto the cut out animal. They moved the animal along a measured distance measuring the size of the shadow at each point.

The children recorded their measurements on a table, ready for analysis back in the classroom.

 

What did the class discover about shadows?

Their results showed that the closer the animal was to the tent the smaller its shadow would be.

So once the shadow of the wild animal became small on the tent wall a quick exit, through the back, would be required!!




We have designed some wordsearches. If you would like to have a go click on the document link below and print one off.

 

 

What did the class discover about shadows?

Their results showed that the closer the animal was to the tent the smaller its shadow would be.

So once the shadow of the wild animal became small on the tent wall a quick exit, through the back, would be required!!




We have designed some wordsearches. If you would like to have a go click on the document link below and print one off.

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