Lesson 1 - Could a statue’s shadow move? and Lesson 6 - Why do the stars come out at night?

Activity: Lesson 1 - Moving Shadows and Lesson 6 - Star Projector

What kind of LED flashlight do you recommend for this lesson?

In our Spinning Sky unit, students will use LED flashlights to observe shadows and create a model of stars. You may be wondering what kind of flashlights to use in these activities.

The most important thing is that the flashlight is bright enough. If the light is too weak, then students will not be able to observe the effects of shadows in the activities. Also, if you’re using a flashlight that has a reflector, or one with multiple LEDs, these can create a halo effect.

In case it helps, here are the requirements for flashlights we use in our Mystery Packs:

• Only one bright white LED, no multiple-light flashlights
• No reflector
• An on/off switch that younger children can easily use -- and one that doesn’t require holding down a button to keep the flashlight lit
• Avoid choking hazards. In toy applications, for younger children, it has to be difficult to access the battery. Toy use requires a tool to open the battery compartment.