Building shade from the sun · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Building Shade From the Sun

Science · Energy · ages 5-6
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which material blocks the sun best for a shade?

    • Clear plastic wrap
    • Thick cloth
    • A thin wire

  2. What is a shade for?

    • To block the sun and keep a spot cooler
    • To make more sunlight
    • To count how many toys you have

  3. To know if a shade works, you should compare the temperature in the shade and in the sun.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Look at the chart. Which spot is cooler?

    Shade70Sun90
    • The shady spot
    • The sunny spot
    • They are the same

  5. Ben wants to build a shade over his sandbox. What should he plan first?

    • The color of his shoes
    • How many friends he has
    • A shape that covers the sandbox and blocks the sun

  6. Zara built a shade from cardboard. What should she do next to test it?

    • Paint the cardboard a bright color
    • Measure the temperature under the shade and compare it to a sunny spot
    • Count the pieces of cardboard she used

  7. Mia has two shade designs: one made of cardboard, one made of see-through plastic. Which design will most likely keep a spot cooler?

    • The cardboard shade
    • Both work the same
    • The plastic shade

  8. Leo built a shade using see-through plastic. He said it worked great without checking anything. What did Leo forget to do?

    • Choose a fun color for the plastic
    • Count how many friends helped him build it
    • Compare the temperature in the shade to the sunny spot
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_2agkUcdah9-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Building Shade From the Sun W1-mt_2agkUcdah9-s1

  1. Thick cloth · Thick cloth blocks light. Clear plastic lets light pass through.
  2. To block the sun and keep a spot cooler · A shade blocks sunlight so the spot under it stays cooler.
  3. True · Comparing the two spots shows if the shade really helps.
  4. The shady spot · The shade bar is lower, so that spot is cooler than the sunny spot.
  5. A shape that covers the sandbox and blocks the sun · A good design covers the spot and stops the sun's rays from reaching it.
  6. Measure the temperature under the shade and compare it to a sunny spot · Testing means checking if the shaded spot is really cooler than the sun.
  7. The cardboard shade · Cardboard blocks sunlight better than see-through plastic, so it keeps the spot cooler.
  8. Compare the temperature in the shade to the sunny spot · Leo needs to test and compare temperatures to know if his shade really works.
Worksheet · LightMySky