S2.6.6 For the adult
A shadow stick through the day
Why is my shadow long in the morning and short at midday?
What this chapter teaches
A shadow is longest when the Sun is low and shortest at midday, when the Sun is highest. Midday by the Sun is not always 12 on a clock, and the way the midday shadow points depends on where you live.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- When do you think your shadow is shortest, and why?
- Where will the tip of the shadow move next, and how could you check?
- Why might midday by the Sun come at a different time from 12 on a clock?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Make a shadow stick and mark its shadow every hour
- Say when the shadow is longest and when it is shortest
- Explain why the Sun seems to cross the sky
What they copy into their notebook
A shadow stick shows the path of the Sun. The shadow is long when the Sun is low. It is short at midday. The Earth turns, so the Sun seems to move. Never look at the Sun.