Fifth grade students in Ms. Amber Revels’ class took their learning outdoors as part of a hands-on science project studying the Earth’s rotation. Using the Amplify Science Curriculum, students explored how the movement of the Earth affects the position and length of their shadows throughout the day.
To investigate, students marked their shadows at different times and compared how the direction and size changed as the sun appeared to move across the sky. Through this engaging experiment, they were able to see firsthand how Earth’s rotation causes these changes.
“It's so important that students are able to get outside and get hands-on experience by acting as true scientists,” Revels said. “Students are able to apply the concepts they learned and see how they are relevant in real-life.”
Some of the goals for Oasis Academy’s science curriculum are inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to think like scientists by asking questions, collecting data, and drawing conclusions. Projects like this one help foster curiosity and deepen understanding of key scientific concepts.
By the end of the lesson, students not only gained a better grasp of Earth’s rotation, but also developed valuable observation and critical thinking skills.