February is quickly approaching and this is the perfect time to put together a unit study for learning about shadows and Groundhogs Day.
This post contains affiliate links.
What Makes a Shadow? by Clyde Robert Bulla – When you run, your shadow runs. But you can never catch it! What makes a shadow? Where does it come from? When the sun is shining, everything has its own shadow — trees, houses, cars, even clouds and planes way up in the sky. You have a shadow, too. As the sun sets, all shadows become part of a much larger one — the night! ~from Amazon
Why Do Shadows Lengthen? by Nicolas Brasch – The presence and absence of light is an ever-fascinating thing. It’s fun to watch shadows as they change in shape, lengthening, and eventually disappearing into surrounding darkness. Readers will enjoy learning about light, white light, and polar nights. Activities are included to create a lasting enthusiasm about the mysteries of light. ~from Amazon
Dark as a Shadow by Lawrence F. Lowery – Time for shadow play! After reading about how light and objects interact to create shadows, young children won’t be able to resist twisting, wiggling, bending, and shaking to see the phenomenon for themselves. To add to the enjoyment, Dark as a Shadow is written in lively rhymes, making it even more fun to learn the science behind why shadows change length through the day and disappear in the dark. ~from Amazon
Nothing Sticks Like a Shadow by Ann Tompert – To win a bet, Rabbit tries to get rid of his shadow with the aid of his many animal friends. ~from Amazon
The Art of Hand Shadows by Albert Almoznino – Clear explanations and over 70 illustrations demonstrate how to position your hands to make lifelike shadows of a lumbering dinosaur, a pair of playful monkeys, an eagle taking flight, a cat scratching itself, a howling wolf, a neighing horse, a dog that eats a rabbit, and many other figures. ~from Amazon
My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson – Inside, outside, climbing up the stairs or jumping into bed, your shadow may be following you! He may even be one step ahead as you run down the street! Complete with a cast of the whole family, a cat, a dog, and a teddy, this story is for everyone. Little ones who are just discovering their shadows for the first time will find inspiration between these pages, while older, more experienced kids are sure to learn new ways to play with their shadows. Get ready to laugh and giggle and then find the nearest light source and try out some shadows of your own! ~from Amazon
More Resources for Learning About Shadows and Groundhogs Day
Children’s Picture Books about Groundhogs from Jenny Evolution
Demystify Shadows with Fun Puzzle Games from iGameMom
Shadow Animal Matching Activity from MyStorytime Corner
Shadow STEM Activities from Schooling a Monkey
Groundhog Day Weather: How Accurate is Popular Weather Lore? from FrogMom
Shadow Tracing from CraftCreateCalm
