C Curriculum Explorer
Science·Energy·procedural

Building shade from the sun

Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area, such as a shade or shelter

Suggested ages 5–6

Open direct link

Learning journey

Your child is beginning to understand energy — observing how sunlight warms objects and surfaces, and designing simple structures to create shade and reduce warming effects.

Evidence of understanding

  • Design a structure intended to reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area
  • Build the structure using available materials and test whether it reduces temperature
  • Compare the temperature in the shaded area vs an unshaded area as evidence of effectiveness

Assessment prompt

Can Building shade from the sun design and build a simple shade — like an umbrella or canopy — and test whether it keeps an area cooler in the sun?

Standards alignment

K-PS3-2US · ngss-k5

K-PS3-2

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5