Observe Shadows With a Solar System Mobile
When watching the sun set, Mindy is convinced it travels around the Earth. Hundreds of years ago, most of the world thought the same thing. Sean explains to Mindy that the truth was discovered by Galileo, a famous Italian scientist who proved that the Earth circles the sun.
Help your child observe how the Earth’s movement around the sun causes changes in shadows on Earth throughout the day by crafting a unique solar system mobile.
Materials
Directions
Start by observing the sun with your child at different times of the day — without looking directly into the sun. Instead, observe shadows and talk with your child about how objects block the sun’s light to create shadows. Ask your child, “What do you notice about where the sun is in the sky? What do you notice about shadows?” After doing some shadow and sun observations, invite your child to join you in making a solar system mobile so that you can observe the differences in the position of the sun’s light and the shadows it helps create throughout the day.
Cut a large sun shape out of one side of the milk jug. Use the rest of the container to cut out smaller circles — about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. These could represent smaller planets that orbit the sun.
Decorate the sun and planets with tissue paper and glue.
Punch a hole at the top of the sun and the planets.
Tie the sun and planets to a hanger.
Hang the mobile in your window.
Track the shadows created by your mobile’s sun and planets throughout the day. Use removable tape to mark the position of the shadows. Notice where the sun appears in the sky (out the window). Ask your child, “What do you notice? How does the shadow change?” If possible, track the movement a few days in a row and help your child describe the pattern of movement.
Author: 
Science