- Definition
A cast shadow is the dark shape you see on a surface, like the ground, when something blocks the light from hitting it.
In a drawing of an apple on a table, the dark shape on the table beside the apple is the cast shadow.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A cast shadow is like the dark shape your hand makes on the wall when you make shadow puppets.
Ask your child: If the light is here, where do you think this toy's shadow will land?
Common mix-up: Kids might think the shadow is just the dark part of an object. A cast shadow is the separate dark shape the object makes on another surface, like the floor or a wall.
Examples
- The shadow of a tree stretching across the lawn on a sunny day.
- The dark shape a cup makes on the table when it's sitting under a lamp.
cast shadow is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
