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Oak National Academy
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Year 3

Making shadows

I can explain how shadows are formed.

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New
New
Year 3

Making shadows

I can explain how shadows are formed.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When light falls on some objects, a dark shape is formed on the other side of the object.
  2. A shadow is a dark shape that is formed when an object blocks light.
  3. Opaque objects do not allow light to travel through them.
  4. A shadow does not show the features of an object.
  5. The shape of a shadow depends on the shape of the object blocking the light.

Common misconception

Shadows contain details of the object, such as facial features of a human’s shadow. Also that a shadow can be a different shape to the object, and formed in between the light source and the object.

Explanation of how shadows are formed.

Keywords

  • Shadow - A shadow is a dark shape that is formed when an object blocks light.

  • Object - An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing.

  • Light source - Something that is a light source produces its own light.

  • Opaque - Light cannot pass through objects that are opaque.

Make the classroom as dark as possible before creating shadows. A light box or an overhead projector work well for the tasks in this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Torches and other light sources, paper or cardboard, scissors, tape, pencils or lolly sticks, a range of objects made from transparent, translucent and opaque materials for testing.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Alex is classifying materials by how much light they let travel through them. Which groups should he put them into?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: opaque, transparent and translucent
rough and smooth
waterproof and absorbent
Q2.
Which of these statements is true?
An image in a quiz
Opaque materials let light pass through them.
Opaque materials let some light pass through them.
Correct answer: Opaque materials do not let light pass through them.
Q3.
Which of these images shows an object made from a transparent material?
jug
Correct answer: cup
bathroom window
Q4.
True or false? Transparent materials do not let light travel through them.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: false
Q5.
What kind of material does this image show?
An image in a quiz
opaque
Correct answer: translucent
transparent
Q6.
Which of these statements is true?
We can see objects clearly through translucent materials.
Correct answer: We can see objects through translucent materials but not clearly.
We cannot see objects through translucent materials.
Q3 image 3 Marcus Bensmann/Shutterstock

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A dark shape is formed on a surface when an object blocks ...
An image in a quiz
heat.
water.
Correct answer: light.
Q2.
Which of these images shows a shadow?
Correct answer: image 1
image 2
image 3
Q3.
Which word describes materials that do not allow light to travel through them?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: opaque, Opaque
Q4.
Which of these objects is made from an opaque material?
frosted glass window
Correct answer: metal tin
plastic cup
Q5.
The shape of a shadow depends on ...
An image in a quiz
the size of the object that is blocking the light.
Correct answer: the shape of the object that is blocking the light.
the colour of the object that is blocking the light.
Q6.
Which of these statements are true?
An image in a quiz
A shadow shows the features on an object.
Correct answer: A shadow does not show the features on an object.
A shadow is formed on the same side of the object as the light source.
Correct answer: A shadow is the same shape as the object.
Correct answer: A shadow is formed on the other side of the object as the light source.
Q4 image 1 Marcus Bensmann/Shutterstock