England: National Curriculum: Science: Key Stage 2: Sc4 Physical Processes
Important Note: To read the activities, go on the tour, and visit Spark Island, you will need to have the Flash 6 plug-in installed. For more information on Flash, and to see if you have it installed, click
here.
(click here to play)
Exploring how shadows work by identifying where the sun is in relation to the type of shadow.
Learning objectives/outcomes: QCA Scheme of Work: Unit 3F Light and shadows: learning objectives:
- that shadows are formed when objects block light from the Sun
- that shadows are similar in shape to the objects forming them
- that shadows of objects in sunlight change over the course of the day
- to make and observe observations of shadows and try to explain these using knowledge about light
- that shadows change in length and position throughout the day
- that the Sun appears highest in the sky at midday
- that the higher the Sun appears in the sky the shorter the shadow
- that shadows can be used to tell the approximate time of day NC - KS2:
How the position of the sun appears to change throughout the day and affects the appearance of shadows.
Learning objectives/outcomes: QCA Scheme of Work: Unit 5E Earth, Sun and Moon: learning objectives:
- that it is the Earth that moves, not the Sun, and the Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours
- that it is daytime in the part of the Earth facing the Sun and night-time in the part of the Earth away from the Sun
(note that secondary sources displaying a model of this process, exactly as this game does, are explicitly suggested
in the Teaching activities section for the above two learning objectives).
- that the Earth takes a year to make one complete orbit of the Sun, spinning as it goes
- that the Moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the Earth
- that the different appearance of the Moon over 28 days provides evidence for a 28-day cycle NC
The Earth and beyond; the sun, the earth, the moon (how they affect each other... [etc..])