Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Shadow Fair Test Report: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Shadow Fair Test Report is a free printable science worksheet for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children test a toy and a torch, record what they find in a table, and write up their report. It covers predicting, measuring in cm and fair testing. It needs a torch, a small toy, a ruler or string and a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children plan and run a simple shadow test using a torch and a toy. They predict first, then measure the shadow on a wall and record the height in cm in a table. They rank the results, with 1 for the tallest. Numbered questions ask what is changed, what is measured and what is kept the same. There are lines for writing too.
- What do we change in this test?
- What do we measure each time?
- Name one thing we keep the same.
- Torch distance from toy
- Shadow height in cm
- Rank (1 = tallest)
Setting up the test
Gather the kit
You need one torch, one small toy, a ruler or a length of string, tape, a pencil and a clear stretch of wall. A metre stick helps if you have one.
Mark your steps
Mark 20 cm steps along the ruler or string. Tape them down so the marks do not slip. Children can then place the torch at each mark without guessing.
Dim the room
Close the curtains or turn off the main light. A darker room makes the edge of the shadow easier to see and easier to measure.
Measure the same way each time
Decide where a measurement starts and stops, then use that method every time. Agree it together before the first go. Write each result in the table straight away.
Why a fair test matters
A fair test is one of the main ways scientists find out how things work. You change one thing on purpose, measure what happens, and keep everything else the same. If two things change at once, you cannot tell which one caused the result. Year 3 children begin to plan simple tests like this and to say why each choice was made.
Shadows are a good topic for it. A shadow forms when an opaque object blocks light, so the shadow is the dark space where the light cannot reach. Children can see it, measure it and repeat the test in minutes. That makes it easy to spot a wobbly measurement and to try again.
Use a torch only. Never use a candle or any flame to make shadows. Do not shine a torch into anyone's eyes, and keep it pointing at the toy and the wall.
Shadow facts
- Light travels in straight lines, which is why an object can block it and leave a shadow.
- An opaque object lets no light through. A transparent object lets most light through.
- The Sun is a source of light. The Moon is not. It shines because it reflects sunlight.
- A sundial uses the shadow of a pointer to show the time of day.
- Shadows have the shape of the object that blocks the light, but they show no colour or detail.
Skills and curriculum link
- Predicting
- Measuring in cm
- Fair testing
- Recording in a table
- Ranking results
- Explaining ideas
Ideas to talk about
- What is a shadow?A shadow is a dark area where an object has blocked light. Ask your child to point to one in the room and say what is blocking the light.
- What is a fair test?Only one thing is changed on purpose. Everything else stays as it was. Ask your child to say why that makes the results trustworthy.
- Why measure in cm?Numbers let us compare results properly. Saying a shadow looks bigger is a guess. A measurement in cm is evidence.
- Why predict first?A prediction is a sensible guess with a reason. It does not matter if it turns out wrong. Finding out is the point.
Key words
- ShadowA dark shape made when an object blocks light.
- Light sourceSomething that gives out light, such as a torch or the Sun.
- OpaqueNot see through. Opaque objects block light.
- Fair testA test where you change one thing and keep the other things the same.
- PredictMake a careful guess about what will happen, and say why.
- RankPut results in order. On this sheet, 1 means tallest.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Set up a dim room with one torch and one toy. Mark 20 cm steps on a ruler or string.
- Do the first test together. Ask your child to predict first, then measure the shadow on the wall and fill in the table.
- Let your child complete the questions and write their report. Check it against the answers on page 2.
- Come back another day and try a different toy. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use a metre stick and mark the distances with tape. Let an adult hold the torch steady while your child measures. Do one row of the table together, then let them try the next row alone.
To stretch confident children
Try a second toy of a different size. Does the same pattern happen? Ask your child to explain why they think so, and to say what they kept the same so that the comparison was fair.
Make it a game
Make shadow puppets for each distance and guess which will be tallest before you measure. Write the guesses down, then check them. Award a point for each correct guess.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe torch wobbles or moves, so the shadow keeps changing size.
Try thisLet an adult hold the torch steady, or rest it on a stack of books. Check the position before each measurement.
Watch forThe child measures the shadow from a different place each time.
Try thisAgree a start and end point for the measurement before you begin. Mark the wall lightly with tape if that helps.
Watch forThe child changes the toy or the wall position midway, so the test is no longer fair.
Try thisPause and ask, "What did we say we would change?" Then start that row again.
Watch forThe child ranks the results the wrong way round.
Try thisRead the heading again together. Point out that 1 means tallest, and check the rank against the numbers in the table.
Talk about it
- What do you think will happen? Why do you think that?
- How did you decide where to start measuring the shadow?
- What would make this test unfair?
- Were any results a surprise? What did you expect?
- How could we check our results are reliable?
- Where else have you noticed shadows changing size?
Take it off the page
Shadow hunt
Go outside on a sunny day and find three shadows. Draw each one and say what is blocking the light. Look again later and see if they have changed.
Chalk shadow trace
On a sunny day, trace a toy's shadow on the ground with chalk. Come back later and trace it again. Talk about what looks different.
Opaque or not
Collect a few objects from around the house. Hold each in front of a torch and sort them by whether they block the light, let some through, or let most through.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Ask them to explain their choices rather than giving them the answers. Praise careful measuring as much as correct results.
Teachers
Use it as a starter on light and shadows, a practical task for pairs, or a plenary on fair testing. It needs only a torch and a toy per group. Page 2 offers support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a walk to spot shadows outdoors or a book about light. Because it is free to print, you can use it again for brothers and sisters, or repeat it with a different toy a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, children learn that we need light to see and that dark is the absence of light. They also meet the idea that some materials block light and some let it through. Measuring in cm and filling in a simple table are useful skills to have first.
After it, children can look at how the size of a shadow changes in other situations. They can plan their own fair tests with different questions and decide for themselves what to change, measure and keep the same. These skills carry into every area of science in Key Stage 2.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Shadow Fair Test Report for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8) in Key Stage 2. Older children can use it as a quick revision of fair testing, and younger children can try it with an adult doing the measuring.
- What will children practise?
They practise predicting, measuring in cm and fair testing. They also learn that shadows form when light is blocked by an opaque object, and they record results in a table and rank them.
- What equipment do I need?
You need one torch, one small toy, a ruler or string marked in 20 cm steps, tape, a pencil and a plain wall. A metre stick is helpful but not essential. A dim room works best.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Use a metre stick and mark the distances with tape. Let an adult hold the torch steady while your child measures. Do the first row of the table together, then let them try the next row alone.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. Print both pages, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2, which has the notes and answers, for the grown up.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, homework or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and gathering a torch and a toy for each group.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Colour is not needed for any part of the activity, so it is easy to print again for another child.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.