The movement of shadows: a teaching proposal for the secondary school

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive teaching sequence for secondary school astronomy, focusing on shadows, Earth's rotation, and historical context, with practical activities and resources to enhance student understanding.

Contribution

It offers a detailed, ready-to-implement didactic sequence incorporating experiments, models, and historical discussions to improve astronomy education at the secondary level.

Findings

Enhanced student engagement through hands-on activities.

Improved understanding of shadow phenomena and Earth's rotation.

Effective use of models and historical context in teaching.

Abstract

A didactic sequence of activities on some topics of Astronomy, related mainly with the length and orientation of shadows cast by a gnomon, the movement of shadows during daytime in different seasons of the year, and finding the true astronomical North, is fully developed. It also includes a discussion of observations from different frames of reference and of some topics in the history of science to enrich a debate among students, as well as the construction of a simplified model for the apparent displacement of the Sun, and of a sundial, and their use as resources to discuss some common misconceptions found in students. Multiple suggestions and clear guides are given for teachers of secondary education to implement theses activities in their classes.