This past week was a week I look forward to each and every year?Why? Because I know my lesson plans are FUN, ENGAGING, MEANINGFUL…
and I know my class is going to love every minute of it.
This week we covered Lights and Shadows.
{I do this lesson around Groundhog Day,
although I know many teachers who do it for rainbows
around Saint Patrick’s Day.}
I started off the week by covering my back windows with black paper.
It makes for a long week of feeling odd because you don’t get any natural light in your classroom,
but it is needed to control light in the room.
Of course my class in intrigued already.
Why are the windows covered?
What are we going to do with that paper?
Are you going to do something cool today?
That desire of knowledge begins!
Charting Our Ideas
During science, we make a chart so I can pick their brains.
We talk about what light is, what it can do, and what it has.
Is all the information they share accurate?
Nope… and that is okay.
The goal is to get their heads to see what they already know
AND to see what misconceptions they have.
If you stop their willingness to share by correcting,
you might scare off a child who wants to share something they want to add to the chart.
I always encourage my class by saying:
There is no wrong answer here.
This is JUST what you THINK.
On the chart, you can see is says the light is the moon.
When we learn that is NOT true, and we do, we cross it off the chart.
Further along in the week, we learn what light looks like.
First, we complete one side of the sheet about light.
We write down what we think light looks like.
I get lots of light bulbs, suns, and yellow pictures.
That is what these kids think.
What We Learn
After we “see” the colors of light by doing an AWESOME science experiment,
we fill out the opposite side that says, “I know light…”
I look very closely at this side to see if my student understand
that light is actually the colors of a rainbow.
I want them to draw the colors in order, with red at the top.
Does that always happen? NO…
perfection in Kinder isn’t needed.
I really really really don’t want to see black or brown though.
Having Fun With Shadows
We also got to take some time to use shadow puppets and shadow dancing!
Here is a picture showing the shadow dancing set up.
I hang a large sheet with an overhead projector behind it.
{Those overheads come in handy after all!}
My kids dance between the light and the sheet.
The class cheers them on from the opposite side of the curtain.
Since we can’t “see” the little wonderful behind the sheet,
only their shadow, those shy or hesitant loves enjoy letting loose!}
The blackout windows are essential here.
My class LOVED learning about lights and shadows so much.
We had to expand our learning during center time.
Light Bright?
We set up a Light Bright station.
How do we make it more meaningful?
How about giving your students black and white paper to test out!
More Lights and Shadows Fun
We also blew bubbles in the classroom and held them up to the light to see it shadow.
The soap and water make an awesome shadow!
And each student had to try it for themselves.
Lastly, my creative and hands on kids asked if they could
make their own shadow puppets.
SURE!
I gave them colored construction paper, a supply bin, Popsicle sticks, and some tape.
{Try using colored paper to prove to my super students that shadows really don’t show color!}
I left up the sheet curtain so they could test out and use their shadow puppets.
I hope you were able to get a few ideas for teaching light and shadows in your classroom.
If you want to look at my lesson plans, here they are!
I detailed what books and materials I use,
the actual lesson plans I use,
and the printables to make this week easy peasy for you.
{Most of this is hands on and worksheets are NOT needed! WOO HOO!}
Looking for more ideas?
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Wow! What a fun week of science lessons.
Tara
The Math Maniac
Great ideas!!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Love all these activities!
Linda
Down the learning Road