Shadows

1. Shadows What is a shadow?

2. The Definition of a Shadow • When a solid object blocks the passage of light it casts a shadow on another object or surface.

3. To Make a Shadow You Need • A source of light • An object • A surface

4. A Shadow Seems to Have a Life of its Own! • Because the sun’s rays shine down from directly overhead, you have almost have no shadow at all. • Early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when the sun is at a lower angle in the sky, your shadow begins to grow and stretches out like a giant on stilts. • You can’t move faster than your shadow!

5. Shadow Animals • Turn on a single light at night in a dark room. • Shine the light directly on the wall. • Stand between the light and the wall, turn sideways to the wall. • Use your hands to make an animal like a dog or a rabbit.

6. Make a Shadow Rabbit • First hold your right hand up with the back toward you. • Raise the first 2 fingers. • Touch the last 2 fingers to your thumb. • Move your hand around until its shadow looks like a rabbit’s head with 2 ears sticking up. • Now try to build the rest of the rabbit.

7. Make A Shadow Crocodile • Use your arms and stretch them out. • Hold your left hand flat, palm up. • Place your right hand palm down on top of it. • Slowly move your hands apart but keep your arms together at the wrists. • The shadow will look like a lazy crocodile opening its mouth.

8. Shadows at Play!

9. Make a Shadow Dog • Place palms of hands together with your thumbs on top on a level with your eyes. • Raise your thumbs and drop the little finger of your right hand. • The head of a dog will appear. • Move your thumbs and the dog will prick up its ears. • You can make the dog bark by moving your little finger.

10. Shadow Games • You can play games with your shadow. • You can play Shadow Tag. One person is it and tries to “tag” another person’s shadow. • If the other person is standing in the shadow of a building or a tree, then he is safe and cannot be caught • If you put a foot on his shadow, it’s his turn to try and catch your shadow. • Can you shake hands with your friend’s shadow if your hands are not touching?

11. Shadow Portraits • Ask a friend to sit sideways on a chair near a wall. • Use tape to fix a sheet of white or black paper to the wall behind your friend’s head. • Shine a flashlight so your friend’s head casts a shadow on the paper. • Draw around the edge of the shadow with a pencil if you are using white paper. If you are using black paper, use a white crayon to trace around the edge of the shadow.

12. Fun With Shadows • Shadows need a source of light, an object, and a surface. • Your shadow is a part of you. • What games are you going to play with your shadow?