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Big and Little Shadows

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The GIANT Encyclopedia of Preschool Activities for 4-Year-Olds

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The GIANT Encyclopedia of Preschool Activities for 4-Year-Olds

Materials

A sunny day

Blacktop or concrete area

Chalk

Instructions

1. Talk to the children about shadows and how they are made by light shining behind a person or an object.

2. Take the children outside on a sunny day and ask them to stand so that they can look at their shadows.

3. Encourage the children to make their shadows as big or as small as they can (and short, tall, wide, and so on). Continue this game. Ask the children to stand near a partner and make shadows together.

4. Give the children time to explore the different shapes that their shadows make.

5. Using chalk, ask the children to trace around each other's shadows.

6. Later in the day, take the children back outside and ask them to find their shadow outlines. Encourage them to compare their outlines with their shadows now. Ask them why they might be different (the sun has moved to a different position in the sky).More to do:More Science: Take the children outside on a cloudy or overcast day and ask them where they think their shadows went.Gross Motor: Set up a projector in the classroom and encourage the children to experiment making shadows on a blank wall.

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