Light and Shadows

Explain that shadows are formed when light from a source is blocked; recognise that shadows are similar in shape to the objects forming them; describe how a shadow from the Sun changes over the course of the day;

Teacher background knowledge

QCA/DfES schemes of work for this unit. Learning objectives / outcomes, vocabulary, resources and suggested activities.

Support materials for this QCA unit. Available as a word document from the 4S (Surrey) website. Still there, but you need to register first.  It is free to register and you'll be able to access some other very useful resources.

Key knowledge and progression of ideas. Selected pages from the 4S document above. Very valuable for teachers developing thinking skills in science (Word)

How shadows are formed 1 A diagramatic explanation

Teaching sites

BBC science clip Brilliant for use on interactive whiteboard / data projector too.

Virtual Experiments 3 & 4 e -learning available online for LGfL users

Shadows An introductory activity to consolidate understanding from KS1

Shadows of Time A useful online activity from West Sussex grid for learning

Opacity A simulation from Learning and Teaching Scotland website. Forget about the wavelength of the light source, but you could use the light meter.

Science Essentials Web pages from the Channel 4 site deal with this unit.

Video Resources

BBC Learning Zone  There are some clips to use in the classroom linked to this topic

Science Tube - Light Show  Aiming to bring the WOW factor back into teaching and learning. From the Teachers' TV website

Web Quest

Exploring Light An excellent resource to use in the classroom.  Teachers need to familiarise themselves with how a web quest is designed to fit in with their classroom provision before introducing it to their children, so a visit to the Home page is recommended 

Using ICT in teaching

Talent guidance Look at Lewisham's guidance on ICT activities for this QCA science unit in their Year 3 listing

Translucency of materials Lesson guidance on using a data logger (Ecolog) to compare materials

Loan Data - logging equipment from the PDC and measure light levels electronically (find out more)

Easiteach resources

Light and shadow Dominoes. A domino game that challenges pupils to use their thinking skills Download this file

Table top dominoes

The dominoes in a Word document ready to print off, laminate and use in the classroom (Word)

Lesson plans / Worksheets

Statement Sort  Collaborative group activity.   Enlarge to A3 (Word)   Statements ready to cut out (Word)

A focussed Sc1 activity from Astra-Zeneca, enables assessment of one of the Sc1 strands - contributes to an overall Sc1 NC level at the end of the year. Visit this site to find out more

Be creative

Our Shadow Theatre Presents.   Understanding how figures which are opaque, translucent and transparent would be best suited to be characters in a shadow theatre performance.     Outline plan  (Word)   Learning objectives and the script (Powerpoint)   Pupil record sheet (Word)

Science vocabulary

Label templates (Word) A covenient way to have large print copies of key vocabulary. Simply type in and print off ! Useful for lesson introduction and plenary

Key vocabulary cards for this unit Developed in one Haringey school for you to use/modify as needed

Sc1 Glossary for Y3 (Word) Sc1 key vocabulary to be taught in Y3. A great resource from Sheffield's science site.

Somalian keywords (PDF) Sourced from the EMA services pages of the PDC website

Concept Mapping (find out more)

An example of one approach: Pupil 'worksheet' (Word) Key words (Word) and Relationship words (Word) to be cut into 'cards', arranged, stuck down on a blank sheet of paper and annotated to represent the pupils' understanding

IWB Easiteach version of the same resource can be downloaded

A completed (Easiteach) example, for teacher reference, is also available (take a look)

Paired work in progress An example of a concept map in construction

Whole class introduction on how to build a concept map (Word)

Topic revision

Card loop game Available from Sheffield's primary science website (Word)