Virginia SOL K.8

ScienceKindergartenEarth and Space Systems

SOL Standard (Key Ideas Cluster)

The student will investigate and understand that light influences temperature on Earth's surfaces and can cause shadows. Key ideas include

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Cluster contents

K.8 is a Standards of Learning science standard. These are the key ideas and practices under it.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students observe that sunlight warms surfaces and compare objects placed in sunlight and shade. They make shadows by blocking sunlight or flashlight light with an object.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can show where to place an object to make a shadow. They can predict that a surface in sunlight will usually feel warmer than the same surface in shade.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a shadow is a dark object or that it comes from the ground. They may also think shade is always cold or that only sunlight can make shadows.
How to Assess It: Give each student a flashlight and a block. Ask, “How can you make a shadow, and which spot would feel warmer, the lighted spot or the shadow?”

Lesson moves

Place two identical paper squares, one in sunlight and one in shade, then have students touch and compare their warmth.
Ask students to draw a sunny playground and explain where they would stand to stay cooler.
Play Shadow Match by shining a flashlight on classroom objects and matching each object to its shadow outline.
Compare a sunny bench and a shaded bench, then discuss which would feel warmer before sitting down.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to K.8, 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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