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Sun, Shade, and Surface Heat

Activity

Which Colors & Materials Keep You Cool in the Sun?

Sunlight interacts with different surfaces in different ways. Sit on sunny concrete and feel it with your hands—what do you notice? Then move to a shady spot. How does each place feel? Check out your clothes—are they light or dark? Try this as a group and make a graph of everyone’s feelings in sun and shade based on the color and types of clothing they are wearing. Which types of colors and clothing feel best in the sun? What about the shade? Does the temperature outdoors or the season affect which colors feel best in the sun or shade?

Science Seed

Some surfaces reflect sunlight, while others absorb it – this plays a big role in temperatures and directly impacts our climate. Around Palmer Elementary, dark surfaces like asphalt absorb heat, making the area warmer—a phenomenon called the “urban heat island” effect. In contrast, lighter surfaces like grass or light-colored pavement reflect sunlight and stay cooler. This principle is also seen in nature: polar ice reflects sunlight to keep the planet cool, but as ice melts, darker ocean water absorbs more heat, speeding up warming. By exploring how surfaces around the school interact with sunlight, we can better understand ways to reduce urban heat and its effects!

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Geraldine Palmer Elementary

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.