### Lesson Plan: Light and Shadows (Grade 3 Science)
#### Objectives:
- Students will understand the basic concepts of light and shadows.
- Students will learn how shadows are formed.
- Students will experiment with creating and observing shadows.
#### Standards:
- NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards): 3-PS2-4 (Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other).
- 3-PS2-1 (Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object).
#### Materials:
- Flashlights
- Various opaque, translucent, and transparent objects (cardboard, wax paper, clear plastic, etc.)
- White paper or a whiteboard for shadow projection
- Scissors
- Tape
- Markers
#### Procedure:
**Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. Begin with a discussion to activate prior knowledge. Ask students: "What is light?" "Where does light come from?" "Have you ever noticed your shadow on a sunny day? Why do you think it forms?"
2. Explain that today they will learn about how light behaves and how shadows are created.
**Instruction (15 minutes):**
1. Introduce key vocabulary: opaque, translucent, transparent, shadow.
2. Use a flashlight and a few objects to demonstrate:
- Opaque objects that block light completely (cardboard).
- Translucent objects that let some light through (wax paper).
- Transparent objects that let all light through (clear plastic).
3. Demonstrate how shadows are formed when an opaque object blocks the light path.
**Activity 1: Shadow Exploration (20 minutes):**
1. Split students into small groups and provide each group with a flashlight and a variety of objects.
2. Have students predict which objects will create a shadow and which won’t. They should write down their predictions.
3. Let students shine the flashlight on different objects and observe the shadow patterns created on white paper.
4. Have students draw what they observe on the paper, noting if their predictions were correct.
**Activity 2: Creating Shadow Puppets (20 minutes):**
1. Explain how to create shadow puppets using the objects.
2. Provide students with scissors, cardboard, and tape to create their own shadow puppets.
3. Allow students to take turns presenting a small shadow puppet show, casting shadows against a whiteboard or wall.
**Discussion and Reflection (10 minutes):**
1. Bring the class together and discuss what they learned. Ask:
- “What happened when light hit the different objects?”
- “Why do you think some objects created bigger shadows than others?”
- “How did the distance between the light source and the object affect the size of the shadow?”
2. Summarize the lesson by reinforcing key concepts: light travels in straight lines, opaque objects block light and cast shadows, and the size and shape of the shadow depend on the object's distance from the light source.
**Assessment (5 minutes):**
1. Quiz: Provide a short quiz with questions such as:
- Name an opaque object you used today.
- What happens to the shadow if you move the object further away from the light source?
2. Review the answers together to check for understanding.
**Homework:**
Encourage students to observe shadows at home and draw a picture of an interesting shadow they find. Ask them to explain where the light source was and how the shadow was formed.
#### Conclusion:
Review the key concepts learned in the lesson. Reinforce the importance of observation and experimentation in understanding how light and shadows work. Express how these principles are applicable in everyday life, such as understanding how we see objects around us.
#### Notes:
- Adjust activities based on time and classroom dynamics.
- Ensure all activities are safe and supervised to prevent any harm.
- Use multimedia resources, if available, to show real-life examples of light and shadows.