Georgia S1P1.c

Science1st GradePhysical Science

The Standard

Plan and carry out an investigation of shadows by placing objects at various points from a source of light.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science · Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to investigate light and sound.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students choose several places for an object between a light and a screen. They move the object, observe each shadow, and record how the shadow changes.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students keep the light and screen still while moving only the object. They can make a larger or smaller shadow and explain which object position produced it.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a shadow stays the same size wherever the object is placed. They may move the light, object, and screen at once, making the results hard to compare. Some may think the shadow comes from the object rather than blocked light.
How to Assess It: Give each student a flashlight, a block, and white paper. Ask them to make one large and one small shadow by moving only the block, then explain the two positions.

Lesson moves

Tape near, middle, and far marks between a flashlight and white paper; students move a toy, trace each shadow, and compare sizes.
Ask, "How did moving the toy change its shadow?" Students draw two setups and write one evidence sentence.
Play Shadow Challenge: call "larger" or "smaller," and pairs move one object while keeping the flashlight and screen still.
Students test where to hold a hand between a lamp and wall to change the size of a shadow puppet.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S1P1.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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