Unit Plan 11 (PreK Science): Making Shade

Focus: Explore ways to block sunlight and make cooler spaces by creating shade for toys/ice cubes and comparing what happens in sun vs. shade.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Science (Physical Science • Engineering/Design in Play)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Children love sunshine—but they also notice when things get too hot. In this unit, students explore how shade changes what happens to objects in sunlight. They test different shade-makers (paper, fabric, blocks, umbrellas, boxes) and observe how shade can help things stay cooler. Across the week, children build, test, and improve shade structures for classroom toys and simple “melting tests,” then share what they discovered using drawings, photos, and kid-friendly explanations.

Essential Questions

• What is shade, and how can we make it?
• What happens to objects in the sun compared to the shade?
• Which materials make the best shade (block the light the most)?
• How can we improve a shade structure to work better?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Identify sun and shade in the classroom or outdoors and describe how each feels (warm/cool).
2. Use simple tests to compare what happens to the same object in sun vs. shade (e.g., melting, temperature touch-safe comparisons).
3. Create a simple shade structure for a toy or small space using classroom materials.
4. Observe and describe which shade structures block more sunlight (e.g., “This one makes a darker shadow.”).
5. Make a simple improvement to a shade structure after testing (e.g., bigger roof, stronger supports, better material).

Standards Alignment — PreK (NGSS-based custom)

• PK-PS3-2 — Explore ways to block sunlight and make cooler spaces.
  • Example: Using umbrellas or cardboard to keep ice cubes from melting quickly.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can find sun and shade and tell which feels warmer or cooler.
• I can test what happens in the sun and what happens in the shade.
• I can build a shade cover for a toy or a small space.
• I can say which shade works best and show what I noticed.
• I can change my shade to make it work better.