Teach Middle East Magazine Nov-Dec 2017 Issue 2 Volume 5 | Page 11

Making use of the sunshine Shadow science – what is the best time of day to cast a shadow? Using chalk and your playground, go out 5 or 6 times across the day, trace your own shadow, measure its length and record your observations. For a fair test, stand in the same spot each time. Can you make a prediction about what will happen to your shadow and where it will be on the third, fourth and fifth trips out? What is causing this change? Gratnells Outdoor Education Kit Example kit list for exploring biodiversity • Magnifying glass • Plastic collecting pots with lids • Brushes and spoons • Long handled nets • Separating dishes • Data loggers • Cameras • Identification charts and guides Exploring evaporation – after a rain storm, or using a bottle of water, find or make a puddle in a sunny spot. Trace a line around the far edge of the puddle with chalk, at regular timed intervals, go and check the puddle, draw a new line around its perimeter and mark the time on the line. Repeat until the puddle is gone. Older students could use square paper to calculate the area inside each perimeter line (after all the water has gone) and plot the data on a graph. Experiment with different volumes of water and different locations on your play ground. The whole class could have their own puddle. Develop your investigation by recording light levels and air temperature. Older students could set up a time lapse recording to show how the shadow of a fixed object moves over the full school day. Include a large clock in the frame with the object to illustrate the passing of time. Beyond science, you could lay an old sheet out on the playground under a shadow cast by an interesting tree, use charcoal or paint to fill in the shadow, experiment with mud paints or use natural objects to make a collage. Teaching outdoors is how we can make learning come alive for our students, enriching all subject areas, engaging and inspiring children to take their studies further. It’s only when you go outside and find real world examples that diagrams and theories have context, resonance and meaning.