When the sun shines on a tree, the tree blocks some of the light. That makes a dark patch on the ground: a shadow. The shadow falls on the side away from the sun.
Key idea
A shadow falls on the side away from the light.
Why it works
Light travels in straight lines. The tree stops the light, so the ground behind the tree, on the far side from the sun, stays darker.
Worked example: Let's look
A lamp is on the right side of a cup. Where does the cup's shadow fall?
- The light comes from the right.
- The shadow falls away from the light.
Answer: On the left side.
Common mistake
Many children put the shadow on the same side as the sun. Find the sun first, then put the shadow on the other side.
For the grown-up. In a dark room, shine a flashlight on a toy from one side, then the other. Let your child point to the shadow each time and say where the light is.