Where Is My Shadow?

Complete standard story

1. Another pair of ears

   The hare brings his finish sign onto the little stage and notices another pair of ears on the ground. He steps forward, and the shape follows. “Who is copying me?” he asks. Look for the light before answering. The hare blocks some light, and a darker region appears on the ground behind him. The shadow is not a second character living inside the floor. We can still imagine it as a companion in a story, while keeping our explanation of light separate from that imagination. Find the light marker, the hare and the surface where the shadow falls.

   Which side of the hare holds the light?

2. Light from the other side

   Place the light to one side of the hare and notice where the dark ears fall. Move the direction control to the opposite side, keeping the hare still. The shadow changes position too, falling away from the incoming light. Watch the marker, the character and the ground together. Our simplified stage uses parallel light. A household flashlight close to a toy also changes the shadow with its distance, so its results need not match this diagram exactly. Turn the direction slowly and try to point the shadow towards the finish sign. Predict its direction before moving the control.

   Where does the shadow go when the light moves?

3. Long ears, short ears

   Keep the light coming from the same direction and raise it higher. The shadow becomes shorter, drawing the ears nearer the hare’s feet. Lower the light and the shape stretches farther away. The toy’s size and position stay fixed; the height angle of the light is the condition you change. This is a simple illustration, not a precise measurement of your room. Make a prediction, move the slider, then compare the shape against the base markings. Reverse the change and check that you can recover the earlier shadow. Which position makes the ears look longest?

   Would you raise or lower the light for a longer shadow?

4. A shape you cannot pocket

   The hare tries to put the shadow in his pocket, but turning around changes where it falls. “You cannot come along on your own,” he says. Arrange the light direction and height, then compare the result with your prediction. A real opaque prop placed in a light path can also block light. This virtual stage illustrates the main character’s shadow; it does not calculate every possible household lamp and prop arrangement. Explain which part of the scene is the hare’s imaginative story and which part describes an observation about light. Both can belong in your telling, with clear labels.

   What things are needed to make a shadow?

5. One more question before lights out

   Ask an adult for an ordinary flashlight. Keep the toy and marked base steady on a table, and compare light from two directions. Keep the beam away from eyes and do not use a laser pointer. The printed light marker only marks a position; it does not emit light. The opaque prop lets you continue exploring at the table. Take turns being lighting designer and narrator, giving the shadow an imaginary walk. The shadow cannot be packed away, but you can keep the hare and your questions. Next time, invite the tortoise and compare a different shape.

   Which familiar character would you invite next?