Virginia SOL K.8.c

ScienceKindergartenEarth and Space Systems

The Standard

objects in shadows and objects in sunlight have different temperatures.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare how warm objects feel after sitting in sunlight or shadow. They use observations to tell how sunlight affects an object’s temperature.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can predict that an object in sunlight will usually become warmer than the same kind of object in shadow. They can support their answer with touch observations or thermometer readings.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a shadow makes an object cold instead of blocking sunlight. They may also assume every object in sunlight reaches the same temperature.
How to Assess It: Show two identical cups, one in sunlight and one in shadow. Ask students to circle the warmer cup and explain their choice.

Lesson moves

Place two identical cups of water in sunlight and shadow, then compare their temperatures with classroom thermometers.
Ask, “Why might a dog choose to rest under a tree on a sunny day?”
Sort picture cards into likely warmer or cooler groups based on whether each object is in sunlight or shadow.
Walk around the playground and use a thermometer to compare a sunny spot with a shaded spot.

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