\t\t\t\tEmerson, Trace, and Hannes wanted to measure different things including their shadows during math time. Other students wanted to join in. One sunny morning, KZE students went out to the playground and tried to measure their shadows. They worked with a partner to decide what to use and how to record the information. All groups completed their mission. <\/p>\n
Not quite yet. In the early afternoon, Mrs. Zurfluh said to the children: “We are going to measure our shadows again. What do you think will happen? Will our shadows be the same, longer, or shorter than shadows in the morning? Why?” Most children predicted that the shadows in the afternoon will be longer than the mornings because we ate our snack and lunch and we grew. Some students thought they will be the same because we won’t grow that fast.<\/p>\n
So they went out to measure their shadows again, standing at the same spot we measured in the morning. After gathering all the record, they noticed that the shadows in the afternoon were shorter than the morning’s. Students were quite surprised by the finding. They were not sure WHY?<\/p>\n
The next day, Mrs. Zurfluh gave students a flashlight and a block and said: “I would like you to explore and experiment with these objects and see if you can make some connections of why the shadows in the afternoon are shorter than shadows in the morning.” Students worked in groups to explore. Then they shared their thinking with the whole class. Some meaningful debates occurred: <\/p>\n
Group 1 \u2013 Kyle, Daisy, Freddie and Hannes
\nKyle: \u201cWe think that since it was morning the sun was closer to Moscow and it was brighter. So the shadows are bigger. In the afternoon the sun has moved away from Moscow, so the shadows get shorter.\u201d
\nScarlett: \u201cHow does the sun move closer and further?\u201d
\nKyle: \u201cBecause it is moving around the earth.\u201d
\nEmerson: \u201cBut how is this possible if the sun stays on the same straight line?\u201d
\nMrs. Zurfluh: \u201cDoes the sun move or does the Earth move?\u201d
\nEmerson: \u201cAh! So then it\u2019s the earth that moves!\u201d
\nDaisy: \u201cWhen it is bright, it is morning. The shadow is big. When it is afternoon, the shadow is smaller, and the sun is not bright.\u201d
\nLisa: \u201cWhy does the shadows go smaller in the afternoon and bigger in the morning?\u201d
\nDaisy: \u201cIn the morning it\u2019s brighter and the earth is closer to the sun. In the afternoon it is further from the sun.\u201d
\nKyle: \u201cThe earth rotates away from the sun and the shadow is smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n
Group 2 \u2013 Liam, Lisa, Michael and Safiya
\nLisa: \u201c We noticed that the shadow falls across the table but we are not sure why.\u201d
\nMichael: \u201cWe noticed that if we move the flashlight over the block, the shadow gets smaller.\u201d
\nLiam, \u201cWhen our shadows are bigger the sun was shining on our backs. But as the sun went higher, our shadows got smaller.\u201d
\nLisa: \u201cWhen you go closer, the shadow is bigger. The further away, the smaller the shadow.\u201d
\nLizzy: \u201cBut how do you know this? I don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\nEmerson: \u201cWe don\u2019t really know this, we are experimenting.\u201d
\nKyle: \u201cIt is a possibility. It may happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Group 3 \u2013 Trace, Scarlett, Emerson and Lizzy
\nEmerson, \u201cWe noticed the same as Group 2 but we also noticed something else. When the sun is high we get short shadows, when the sun is low the shadows are longer.\u201d
\nLizzy, \u201cWe noticed that from the side, its bigger. And from the top, it is shorter.\u201d<\/p>\n
As our debates came to the end, students all wondered how and where they can find the answer to the question “Why shadows in the morning are longer than shadows in the afternoon?” They agreed to continue the search for the answers. Their inquiry continues…<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Emerson, Trace, and Hannes wanted to measure different things including their shadows during math time. Other students wanted to join in. One sunny morning, KZE students went out to the playground and tried to measure their shadows. They worked with a partner to decide what to use and how to record the information. All groups … <\/p>\n