1. Innovative Curriculum Group: Rays of light Nicola Alcorn - Helena Jonasson - Eliana D’Ambrosio - Irene Efthymiou - Elisa van Hout Erasmus Intensive Programme LIGHT 2010

2. Introduction Shadows  Topic: Shadows  Target groups  Age 9-11: connection between object and shadow  Age 12-14: describe formation of a shadow  Age 15-18: calculate the exact outline of a shadow

3. 1st group: 9-11 year olds  Prerequisites  Students should know that light travels in straight lines  Aims  To know there can be no shadow without light  To realise there is a connection between the light source, object and (the shape of) its shadow

4. 1st group: 9-11 year olds  Activities  Observing the shadows in and around the school  Children experiment with different objects and light sources  Group discussion  Play with appletapplet Applet: http://sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lightshadows.html

5. 2nd group: 12-14 year olds  Aims  To predict the shape of a shadow  To explain the formation of the shadow

6.  Activities  Use of applet to experiment with shadowsapplet  Learning about and making sundials  Children try to predict the shape of a shadow  Discussion of the different predictions  Children check their predictions by experimentation  Discussion of results  Prediction and experimentation with multiple and coloured light sources 2nd group: 12-14 year olds Applet: http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnujava/index.php?topic=42

7. 3rd group: 15-18 year olds  Prerequisites  Basic geometry: e.g. congruent triangles  Aims  To use geometry to explain shadows  To calculate light intensity at different points

8. 3rd group: 15-18 year olds  Activities  Calculate shadow outline of 2D objects  Experiment to check calculations  Determine object shape from a shadow and light source  Experiment: Measuring light intensity in different areas

9.  Shadow is a familiar topic, which will make the children more secure in exploring new materials  Hands on activities form the basis of life long learning  Letting children experiment can help them to overcome their misconceptions  Children learn to work in groups Rationale

10.  Having discussions helps children to express their knowledge and ideas  ICT tools can be used to support the activities where necessary  The activities have elements from both essentialism and progressivism.  The activity on sundials also includes perennalism

11.  Children’s knowledge of shadows progresses from understanding what a shadow is to the movement and formation of a shadow  In order to achieve this, we use:  Observation  Prediction  Construction Conclusions/Summary

12. Have a nice summer! Fijne zomer! Καλό καλοκαίρι! Buona estate! Ha en bra sommar! Grande verão! Samhradh maith diobh!