📖

Shadow Clock

The Sun in Our Sky

Day 94of 180
Week 19of 36
25Minutes
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Learning Objectives

1

Observe how shadows change throughout the day

2

Learn that the sun's position affects shadow length and direction

3

Understand God's creative design in natural patterns

Psalm 104:19

He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows its going down.

Psalm 104:19 (WEB)

Shows God's intentional design of the sun's movements

📦 Materials Needed

  • Chalk or stick
  • Flat outdoor surface
  • Measuring tape
  • Clipboard
  • Pencil
  • Sun safety hat

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and discuss how God created the sun to help us mark time and seasons. Ask children to look outside and describe what they see about the sun.

💭 Review Question: Can you tell me where the sun is right now?
2Teaching (8 min)

Explain that shadows change throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky. Demonstrate how a stick's shadow will look different in the morning versus noon versus afternoon.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Sun moves across the sky during the day
  • Shadows get shorter when sun is directly overhead
  • Shadows point in different directions based on sun's position
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Have you ever watched your shadow change?
  • Why do you think shadows look different at different times?
3Activity: Shadow Tracking Experiment (10 min)
hands-on

Students will create a shadow clock by marking shadow positions throughout the day

📝 Instructions:
  1. Place a stick vertically in a flat area
  2. Mark the tip of the shadow with chalk
  3. Return every 2 hours and mark new shadow position
  4. Measure and record shadow length
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Mark shadows only 2-3 times during day

Challenge: Create a detailed shadow movement chart

4Closing (2 min)

Discuss how tracking shadows helps us understand time and God's amazing design

📝 Review Questions:
  • What happened to your shadow today?
  • How does the sun help us tell time?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for creating the sun and helping us understand how it moves across the sky.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about how the Earth moves around the sun!

Genesis 1:16

God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.

Genesis 1:16 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Sun and Moon Motion Game

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Children are learning about natural astronomical patterns and God's design

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Supervise outdoor activity
  • Ensure sun safety with hats and sunscreen
  • Encourage curiosity about natural observations
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some children might have difficulty understanding abstract concepts of sun movement

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to observe and describe shadow changes

Extension Activities

  • Create a shadow drawing art project
  • Read books about sundials and shadow tracking
  • Make a simple pinhole camera to observe sun movement

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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