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Hi, I'm Dana.
Today my daughter Ellis and I are going to explore shadows
we see outside.
We're going to use the PEEP Family Science app
and do things together to get Ellis excited about shadows.
We're going to play and explore together,
ask questions and talk about ideas,
and explore more.
At the end of the video I'll show you all the ways
we did this.
Where have you seen your shadow before?
I've seen it on the ground, inside the house, everywhere.
DANA: Yeah?
Let's watch a video and see what happens
when Peep, Chirp, and Quack see their shadow, okay?
Sure.
(screaming)
- They're running! - What are they running from?
The shadow.
DANA: You think they'll be able to run away from the shadow?
ELLIS: No!
DANA: Phew, they lost the shadows, they're gone.
(Peep and Chirp grunting)
But why can't they see their shadows now?
'Cause... 'cause that-- the shadow is blocking
because it's too dark for them.
So they didn't really lose their shadows.
They're there, we just can't see it, right?
Where do you think we could go
to see our shadows?
To play with our shadows?
Maybe in the park.
DANA: Oh, look, our shadows.
This is a great spot.
ELLIS: Yeah!
DANA: Which shadow is mine and which is yours, Ellie?
ELLIS: Mine!
DANA: Mine!
(Ellis singing a tune)
DANA: How is my shadow different than your shadows?
GIRL: It's taller.
DANA: But it's because I'm taller
in real life, too.
ELLIS: And your hair is poofy!
DANA: Why are shadows in front of us?
Cause the sun is facing my-my back, so the sun...
my shadow has to be in the front.
Right, if the sun was that way, where would our shadow be?
Behind us.
DANA: Behind us, exactly.
So if we turn this way, does our shadow go in front?
ELLIS: No, it's behind us.
DANA: Because the sun is still in front of us.
Remember when we were at the park the other day playing?
ELLIS: Yeah. DANA: And looking at shadows?
ELLIS: Yeah, right now we're walking just by the...
DANA: Do you think-- what kind of shadows do you think
we're going to see here today?
ELLIS: Cool shadows.
DANA: Oh, I don't see my shadow anymore.
ELLIS: 'Cause it's out, the tree's blocking it.
DANA: Oh...
So are we standing in the tree's shadow you think?
ELLIS: Yeah!
DANA: Oh, can we take a picture of your dog's shadow?
WOMAN: Yeah!
(camera shutter sound)
ELLIS: He looks like a little elf!
DANA: Who's that,
whose shadow is that? ELLIS: That's me!
DANA: That's your shadow!
ELLIS: I ducked down and you couldn't even see me.
DANA: So you were hiding in the shadow, right?
ELLIS: Yeah!
DANA: You weren't really hiding from me.
ELLIS: Yeah!
DANA: But your shadow was hiding.
Now let's rewind so I can show you what I did
to get Ellis excited about science.
Play and explore together.
My attention makes a big difference to Ellis.
When we play together,
I noticed that Ellis wants to play even longer.
It keeps her interested in what we're doing.
Whenever I can, I let Ellis lead the activity.
Giving children more control
makes them curious and keeps them excited about
what they're doing.
Ellis's big sister joined us in the park.
They came up with some of their own games together.
Ellis loved the attention.
Ask questions and talk about ideas.
The more Ellis and I talk about what we're doing,
the more she learns about shadows.
I ask questions to help Ellis think more about the activity
and to keep our conversations going.
Sometimes I talk out loud about my ideas.
When Ellis hears me talk about shadows,
it helps her come up with her own questions and ideas.
We also took pictures of our shadows
and talked about them later.
To learn, children need to reflect on what they've done.
Explore more.
Every time Ellis and I go somewhere together,
we look for shadows, and each time we made new discoveries.
What really gets Ellis excited
is when we make discovers together--
playing, talking, and exploring together
will make a big difference when you explore shadows
with your child, too.
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