New
New
Lesson 9 of 12
New
New
- Year 3
Shadow size: review
I can explain results about shadow size.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Scientists make observations and measurements to help them to learn more about the world and how things work.
- Scientists review the results they have collected to decide what happened and explain what they have found out.
- We can use words ending in -er to explain how one thing affects another thing.
- When the object is closer to the light source, it blocks more light and this makes the shadow appear bigger.
Keywords
Object - An object is something you can touch but something that is not usually a living thing.
Shadow - A shadow is a dark shape that is formed when an object blocks a source of light.
Distance - Distance is how far away something is or how far an object has travelled.
Light source - Something that is a light source produces its own light.
Results - The results of a test or enquiry is what happened and what was found out.
Common misconception
The size of a shadow does not change.
Explanation of how the size of shadows change depending on the distance of the object from the light source.
Create sentence stems to support pupils in explaining how the distance of the object from the light source affects the height of its shadow: "The . . . . . . . . . . -er the object’s distance from the light source, the . . . . . . . . . . -er the shadow."
Teacher tip
Equipment
Pupils' results from lesson 8 of this unit.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Something that is a light source produces its own .
Something that is a light source produces its own .
Q2.Which of these can we measure?
Which of these can we measure?
colour
shape
Q3.Which equipment can be used to measure the distance between an object and a light source?
Which equipment can be used to measure the distance between an object and a light source?
weighing scales
a rain gauge
Q4.What affects the size of an object's shadow?
What affects the size of an object's shadow?
The distance between the object and our eyes.
The distance between the object and the ruler.
Q5.Which of these is a table?
Which of these is a table?
image 1
image 3
Q6.What goes at the top of each column in a table?
What goes at the top of each column in a table?
a footing
an arming
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why do scientists make observations and measurements?
Why do scientists make observations and measurements?
To find out things they don't know using secondary sources.
Q2.What do we call the information or data that is collected in a fair test investigation?
What do we call the information or data that is collected in a fair test investigation?
equipment
conclusion
Q3.Why do scientists review the results of an investigation?
Why do scientists review the results of an investigation?
To say what they think will happen in an investigation.
To follow instructions for how to carry out an investigation.
Q4.Which suffix do scientists use at the end of words to compare how one thing affects another thing?
Which suffix do scientists use at the end of words to compare how one thing affects another thing?
Q5.When an object is moved nearer to a light source, the object's shadow gets ...
When an object is moved nearer to a light source, the object's shadow gets ...
Q6.Why does an object's shadow appear larger when it is nearer to a light source?
Why does an object's shadow appear larger when it is nearer to a light source?
It does not block any light.
It blocks less light.
