Steam Lesson Plan for Kindergarten Students

Topic: Understanding shadows and light

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe the characteristics of shadows and light and how they interact with one another.

Materials

• Shadow puppets
• Light source (e.g. lamp, flashlight)
• White sheet or wall

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever seen a shadow before. Ask them to describe what it looked like and where it appeared.
• Show students a shadow puppet and explain that the puppet is made out of a dark material that blocks the light, causing a shadow to appear.

Direct Instruction

• Explain that shadows are caused by light hitting objects and being blocked or reflected by them.
• Show students different objects and have them predict what kind of shadow they will make.
• Have students experiment with different materials and observe the resulting shadows.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in small groups to create their own shadows by placing objects on a white surface and shining a light on them.
• Encourage them to use different materials to create different types of shadows.

Independent Practice

• Ask students to create a shadow puppet play, using the objects they experimented with during guided practice to create different characters and scenarios.
• Encourage them to use their shadows to tell a story and to think about the angles and positions they use to cast their shadows.

Closure

• Have students share their shadow puppet plays with the class.
• Ask them to reflect on what they learned about shadows and light during the lesson.
• Remind them that shadows can be used to create fun and imaginative scenes and characters.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice activity to assess their understanding of the concepts discussed in the lesson.
• Have students present their shadow puppet plays to the class and ask them to explain their choices and how they used shadows and light to create their scenes and characters.