Science·Space Systems & Earth's History·procedural
Shadows
Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in shadow length and direction, day and night cycles, and seasonal star patterns
Suggested ages 10–11
Learning journey
Your child is exploring how Earth fits into the solar system — understanding why the sun appears brighter than distant stars and observing patterns in shadows, day and night cycles, and seasonal changes in the sky.
Evidence of understanding
- Measure and record shadow length and direction at different times of day
- Create a graph showing how shadow length changes throughout the day
- Connect shadow patterns to the sun's apparent position and Earth's rotation
Assessment prompt
Can Shadows measure their shadow at different times of day, plot it on a chart, and explain why it's longest in the morning and evening but shortest at midday?
Standards alignment
5-ESS1-2US · ngss-k5
5-ESS1-2
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5