Little Lab Coats

🕘🌞 Shadow Clock Mini Lab

Grade 1 Free Unit Sample — 1-ESS1 · Sun, Moon & Stars

📚 Grade: Grade 1🔬 Domain: Earth & Space Science⏱️ Time: 30–45 minutes

Showcase sample

Trace a shadow twice and watch daytime sky patterns appear right on the page.

The Sun’s position in the sky appears to change, and shadows can help us observe that daytime pattern.

Colorful illustration for Shadow Clock Mini Lab showing the main investigation setup.

📋 NGSS Alignment:
1-ESS1-1 / 1-ESS1-2 — Use observations of the Sun, Moon, and stars to describe patterns.

🎯 Learning Objective

Students will trace an object’s shadow at two times and use evidence to notice that shadows change during the day.

💡 The Big Idea

The Sun’s position in the sky appears to change, and shadows can help us observe that daytime pattern.

Three-step science snapshot for Shadow Clock Mini Lab.

Two-time shadow comparison

The shadow visual gives students a before/after anchor: same object, two times, different shadow direction or length.

Trace a morning shadow
Trace a later shadow
Explain the pattern evidence

🔬 Key Vocabulary

Sunshadowpatternobservedirectiondaytime

📦 Materials

Toy or pencil standing upright
Paper
Sunny spot
Crayon
Clock or timer
Tape

🧪 Investigation

Step 1 — Set the marker
Stand a toy or pencil on paper in a sunny spot.

Step 2 — Trace shadow 1
Trace the shadow and label the time.

Step 3 — Wait
Return later the same day if possible.

Step 4 — Trace shadow 2
Trace the new shadow and label the time.

Step 5 — Compare
Look for changes in length or direction.

Step 6 — Explain pattern
Student says how the shadow evidence shows daytime change.

💬 Discussion Questions

How did the shadow change?Use evidence from the activity in your answer.

What stayed the same?Use evidence from the activity in your answer.

Why do we label the time?Use evidence from the activity in your answer.

🚀 Extension

Try this next: Ask your child to repeat one part of the test tomorrow or with one changed material, then explain what stayed the same and what changed.

👩‍🏫 Parent/Teacher Notes

At-home win: This free sample is complete enough to teach today and polished enough to show how a full Little Lab Coats lesson feels.
Evidence move: Press students to point to a mark, drawing, comparison, or observation before they explain.
Family-friendly pacing: If attention is short, do steps 1–4 today and the worksheet discussion later.

Student Worksheet

Name: ________________________ Date: ________________________

1️⃣ Record your evidence

Time	Shadow direction	Shadow length
First trace
Second trace
Pattern

2️⃣ Draw your model or best evidence

Draw what you observed.

3️⃣ Explain with evidence

🔑 Parent Answer Key

What success looks like

A strong answer says the shadow changed direction or length between times, showing a daytime pattern connected to the Sun’s apparent position.

Student names the important observation or test result.
Student uses unit vocabulary in a simple sentence.
Student connects evidence to the science idea instead of guessing.