Worksheet

Shade for a Desert Drum Circle

Children predict, design, and build a model shade for a desert drum circle, then use test observations to explain and improve it.

KindergartenScienceInteractive · Printable

Aligned toK-PS3-2

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What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 NGSS standard
Printable answer key
9 questions
Classroom-ready

Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Kindergarten
Subject: Science
Question types: Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Short answer, Drawing

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students predict how a roof and its shadow will affect warming in sunlight.
Students design and build a simple structure that shades a model sitting mat.
Students use test observations to explain and improve a shade.

How to use

Read aloud and record oral responses as needed. Provide paper cups, tape, card, matching paper squares, and a tray. Supervise outdoor testing; an adult checks warmth with a thermometer and handles hot materials.

Curriculum

NGSS standard covered

K-PS3-2

Design and build a simple structure, such as a shade, that keeps an area from getting as warm in the sun.

Preview

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Name Date

Shade for a Desert Drum Circle

Predict, build, and test a small shade.

Before We Build

Listen to the story. Choose what you predict will happen.

A Place to Rest

At a desert drum circle, Nia wants a shaded place for a sitting mat. Her class will build a tiny model. A paper square will stand for the mat. The roof must leave room underneath for someone to sit. An adult holds two roof samples above the ground in sunlight. Light shines through a clear sheet. A thick card makes a dark shadow.

Which roof will likely keep the mat from warming as much? Choose the roof and a reason.

A. The clear sheet, because it lets sunlight through.
B. The thick card, because it blocks sunlight.
C. Either roof, because both let the same light through.
D. Neither roof, because shadows do not change warming.

Half of a mat is in the roof's shadow. Half is in sunlight. Both halves start equally warm. Which part will likely warm more?

A. The half in shadow
B. Both halves will warm equally.
C. The half in sunlight
D. Neither half will warm.

A small card roof shades only the middle of the mat. Sunlight reaches all its edges. Which change is most likely to shade the whole mat?

A. Use a smaller card above the mat.
B. Lay the card flat under the mat.
C. Move the card beside the mat.
D. Use a wider card above the mat.

Plan and Build

Draw your plan first. Then build and check your model with an adult.

Use four paper cups, tape, a card roof, and a paper square for the mat. Build on a flat tray. Make the roof stand above the mat. Check where its shadow falls. Test outdoors with an adult. Do not touch hot things. The adult will use a thermometer to check how much the paper mats warm.

Draw your shade plan. Show the mat, the cups holding up the roof, and a roof big enough to shade the whole mat. Then build your plan.

A roof lies flat on the model mat. Which change would make room underneath it?

A. Raise the roof on the cups.
B. Tape the roof under the mat.
C. Move the cups away from the roof.
D. Roll the roof into a tight tube.

Test a mat under your roof and a mat with no roof. Circle the TWO choices that make the test fair.

Use matching paper mats.Start with one mat much warmer.Test both mats for the same time.Put the mat with no roof indoors.

Learn from a Test

Listen to another group's test results. Use them to explain your predictions.

What the Group Found

Another group tested two matching paper mats outdoors at the same time. Both mats started equally warm. A card roof shaded one whole mat. The other mat had no roof. After ten minutes, an adult checked them with a thermometer. Both mats had warmed, but the mat under the roof had warmed less. Later, loose tape let the roof slide off.

A child says, “The roof stopped all warming.” Which answer best uses the test results?

A. Yes. The mat under the roof did not warm at all.
B. No. The mat under the roof still warmed, but less.
C. Yes. Neither mat warmed during the sunny test.
D. No. The mat under the roof warmed more.

Loose tape let the roof slide off. Which change is most likely to keep the roof in place for another test?

A. Remove the roof and leave the cups.
B. Make the mat smaller and leave the tape loose.
C. Put an extra cup beside the fallen roof.
D. Tape the roof firmly to the cup supports.

Imagine repeating the sunny test with no roof over either mat. Will one mat still have protection from the sun? Tell why. Use what happened in the test.