Texas TEKS K.8.B

ScienceKindergartenForce, motion, and energy

The Standard

demonstrate and explain that light travels through some objects and is blocked by other objects, creating shadows.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use a light source to test clear and solid objects. They tell whether light passes through or is stopped, then connect blocked light to a shadow.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can predict and test whether light will pass through an object. The student can point out the light source, blocking object, and resulting shadow.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think shadows are objects, reflections, or dark marks. They may also think every material blocks all light or that a shadow can form without a light source.
How to Assess It: Give each student a flashlight, a clear plastic lid, and a cardboard square. Ask the student to test both items and explain why one creates a darker shadow.

Lesson moves

Set up flashlight stations with clear plastic, wax paper, and cardboard, then have students record whether each makes a dark or faint shadow.
Show a shadow photo and ask, “Where is the light, and what object is blocking it?” Students explain with a partner.
Play “Pass or Block” by showing an object, having students choose a response card, and then testing it with a flashlight.
Trace a playground shadow with chalk, then identify the Sun as the light source and the person as the blocking object.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to K.8.B, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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