**Lesson Plan: Light and Shadows**
**Grade Level:** Year 3
**Subject:** Science
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Objectives:**
1. Students will understand the basic concept of light sources.
2. Students will learn how shadows are formed.
3. Students will explore how light and shadows change with the position of the light source.
**Materials:**
- Flashlights (one per group)
- Various small objects (e.g., toy figures, pencils, balls)
- White paper or cardboard
- Pencils and markers
- Scissors
- A bright lamp or sunlight (natural light)
**Standards:**
- Science Standards for Year 3: Understanding basic principles of light and shadows.
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. Begin with a brief discussion on what light is and some examples of light sources (e.g., the Sun, lamps, flashlights).
2. Explain that light travels in straight lines and that when an object blocks the light, it creates a shadow.
3. Show a simple demonstration using a flashlight and a toy figure to create a shadow on the wall.
**Activity 1: Exploring Light Sources (10 minutes):**
1. Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a flashlight and various objects.
2. Ask students to use the flashlights to make shadows with the objects.
3. Encourage them to observe and discuss what happens when they move the flashlight closer or further away, and when they change the angle of the light.
**Activity 2: Shadow Tracing (20 minutes):**
1. Give each student a piece of white paper or cardboard and a pencil.
2. Ask students to place an object on the paper and shine a flashlight on it to create a shadow.
3. Instruct them to trace the outline of the shadow with a pencil.
4. Allow students to repeat this with different objects and compare the shapes and sizes of the shadows.
**Activity 3: Shadow Puppet Theater (15 minutes):**
1. Move students to an area with a bright lamp or sunlight.
2. Show them how to cut out simple shapes (animals, people, etc.) from cardboard or heavy paper to create shadow puppets.
3. Allow students to work in pairs or small groups to create their own shadow puppet theater.
4. Encourage them to tell a short story using their shadow puppets.
**Conclusion (5 minutes):**
1. Gather the class and ask students to share what they noticed and learned about light and shadows.
2. Reinforce key points: Light sources, how shadows are formed, and how shadows change with the light source's position.
3. Provide a brief overview of the next lesson topic related to light and shadows.
**Assessment:**
- Observe students' participation and engagement during activities.
- Check their shadow tracings for accuracy and understanding.
- Informally assess their ability to explain the concepts learned during the conclusion discussion.
**Differentiation:**
- For students needing more support: Provide pre-cut shapes for shadow tracings.
- For advanced learners: Challenge them to create more complex shadow puppets or design an experiment to test how different materials affect shadow formation.
**Extensions:**
- Introduce the concept of opaque, translucent, and transparent objects, and have students explore which objects allow light to pass through.
- Discuss natural phenomena involving shadows, such as eclipses or sundials.
**Homework:**
- Ask students to find and draw three different light sources at home and describe the shadows they create.
This lesson plan combines interactive activities with hands-on learning to help Year 3 students grasp foundational concepts about light and shadows effectively.