Year 5 Science Investigation: Exploring Night and Day

As part of our Science topic on Earth and Space, Year 5 pupils took their learning outdoors to investigate how the sun’s position in the sky affects shadows throughout the day. The children observed and recorded the length and direction of their shadows at three key times: morning, midday, and afternoon.

This hands-on investigation helped pupils understand how the Earth's rotation causes day and night, and how the Sun appears to move across the sky. By comparing their shadow data, they discovered that shadows are longest in the morning and afternoon, and shortest at midday when the Sun is highest overhead.

The activity sparked curiosity and discussion and gave pupils a real-world context for scientific concepts. It was a fantastic opportunity to combine observation, measurement, and teamwork in a meaningful and memorable way.