**Lesson Plan: Light and Shadows**
**Grade Level: 3**
**Duration: 1 hour**
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### Objectives:
1. Understand the basic properties of light and shadows.
2. Explore how different objects can create shadows.
3. Investigate how the position of a light source affects the shape and length of a shadow.
### Materials:
- Flashlights (1 per group)
- Various small objects (toys, blocks, etc.)
- White paper sheets (1 per student)
- Pencils
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Markers
### Introduction (10 minutes):
- **Engage:** Begin with a brief discussion about light sources (Sun, lamps, flashlights, etc.).
- **Question:** Ask students if they have ever noticed their shadow and what they think causes it.
- **Objective Sharing:** Explain that today they will learn about how light creates shadows and what affects the shape and size of shadows.
### Direct Instruction (10 minutes):
1. **Explanation:** Describe how light travels in straight lines and how objects block light to create shadows.
2. **Demonstration:** Use a flashlight and an object to show how a shadow forms on the wall.
3. **Discussion:** Talk about opaque, transparent, and translucent materials and how they affect shadows differently.
### Guided Practice (15 minutes):
1. **Group Activity:** Divide students into small groups and distribute flashlights and objects.
2. **Experiment:** Have them create shadows on their desks or the floor by shining the flashlight on different objects.
3. **Observation:** Encourage students to move the flashlight to see how the shadow changes when the light source is moved closer or farther away, or to different angles.
### Independent Practice (15 minutes):
1. **Shadow Art:** Provide each student with a sheet of white paper and a small object.
2. **Drawing Shadows:** Students will place their object on the paper, use the flashlight to cast a shadow, and trace the outline of the shadow.
3. **Creative Touch:** Allow students to decorate their shadow outlines with markers, turning them into creative artwork.
### Discussion (5 minutes):
1. **Share Work:** Let a few students share their shadow drawings with the class.
2. **Question and Answer:** Discuss what they observed about how the shape and length of the shadow changed based on the position of the flashlight.
### Closure (5 minutes):
- **Recap:** Summarize the lesson, highlighting key points about how light travels and how shadows are formed.
- **Take-Home Activity:** Provide students with a simple worksheet to document shadows they see at home, noting the source of light and time of day.
### Assessment:
- **Observation:** Monitor students during group work to ensure they understand the concept of light and shadow.
- **Shadow Art:** Evaluate the students' shadow drawings for understanding of how shadows change with the light source.
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This lesson plan engages students with hands-on activities and allows them to explore and understand the properties of light and shadows in an interactive and creative way.