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Year 3 - Science

Shadow size: review

Introduction to light and shadows

Unit Summary

This unit explores the nature of light, recognising that light is needed to see and that dark is the absence of light. It covers how light reflects and shadow formation. The unit emphasises practical tests, observations, accurate measuring, and using evidence to support findings.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain results about shadow size.

Key Notes

  • Scientists make observations and measurements to help them to learn more about the world and how things work.
  • Scientists review the results they have collected to decide what happened and explain what they have found out.
  • We can use words ending in -er to explain how one thing affects another thing.
  • When the object is closer to the light source, it blocks more light and this makes the shadow appear bigger.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • object: An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing.
  • shadow: A shadow is a dark shape that is formed when an object blocks a source of light.
  • distance: Distance is how far away something is or how far an object has travelled.
  • light source: Something that is a light source produces its own light.
  • results: The results of a test or enquiry is what happened and what was found out.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The size of a shadow does not change.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Scientists make observations and measurements to help them to learn more about the world and how things work. Scientists review the results they have collected to decide what happened and explain what they have found out.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'object'

An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: The size of a shadow does not change. Correction: Explanation of how the size of shadows change depending on the distance of the object from the light source.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 3 Science guide library.