Typically completed by 5-11 year olds, CREST Star and SuperStar challenges relate to everyday experiences. Children complete eight activities to gain a CREST Award, with each activity taking between 45 minutes and one hour to complete.
The activities are designed to be easy-to-run and low-cost. You don’t need to be a teacher, have a science background or have access to specialist equipment to run them. The packs contain helpful hints and tips for you to use, explaining the scientific themes and offering guidance on conversation topics for your children.
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Sneaky Shadow Activity Card NEAKY SHADOW Cosmic is very worried. His shadow is missing. It was there when he was out playing. It was still with him when he walked down the path to Aunt Stella’s house. But now it is nowhere to be seen. “Come here quickly,” shouts Gem. “I’ve found a shadow!” Gem is under the streetlight looking down at her feet. Just then Aunt Stella comes out of the house. She is carrying a big torch. “I’ll help you find your sneaky shadow,” she says, waving the light around the garden, “and there it is!” He calls Gem to see if she will help him to find his shadow. Perhaps it’s still in the garden. They go outside to look for it. It is getting dark and it is hard to see anything at all. Cosmic runs over and looks down at his feet too. “You’ve found it! Great!” He rushes to tell Aunt Stella but when he looks down his shadow is missing again. Oh no! There on the wall is Cosmic’s shadow. “Wow! Where did that come from?” asks Cosmic. Can you guess? Gem thinks you will see your shadow if there is bright light Aunt Stella thinks you can only see your shadow when the sun is shining Cosmic thinks shadows hide when it goes dark Have you ever looked at your shadow? Does your shadow ever disappear? Your challenge Find out what makes a shadow and what makes it disappear.
SNEAKY SHADOW Discuss Talk to your buddy about how you are going to find out. Getting started Try using light from a window or with a torch. You could also look on a walk, outdoors or in the garden where possible. What do you see? Can you find places where you can see your shadow and where your shadow disappears? Make shapes in front of the light with your hands. What do you see? Make some little people and other shapes from card. What happens when you put them in front of the light? You could use your little people to make a shadow play. Ask an adult to help you to set up a shadow theatre. Test your ideas Can you think of other things that you can do to make shadows and see whether Gem, Cosmic or Aunt Stella is right? Share your ideas Talk about why Cosmic’s shadow was missing. Share your shadow play. Extra things to do Can you make coloured shadows? Can you make your shadows change size? Make up more shadow plays. British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236