ISTE StandardsS and Curriculum Standard

Grade/Subject
ISTE-S
Standard

1st Grade Science

Standard 1: Creativity and Innovation
Performance Indicator: b. Create original works as a means of personal or
group expression

NC Curriculum
Standard

1.E.1.1 Recognize differences in the features of the day and night sky and apparent
movement of objects across the sky as observed from Earth.

Lesson Scenario
To begin this lesson the teacher will start by taking students outside if possible or gathering
around a window for an outside view. The teacher will begin the lesson by discussing what they
see in the sky during the day. Some items discussed would include the sun, clouds, and birds.
Upon returning inside the teacher will produce a night sky image in the form of a photograph or
with the use of a SMART Board. The students will discuss the differences they see in the night
sky compared to the day sky. These items may include the moon, stars, planes, or comets.
The teacher will then teach the students the differences between the sun and moon and how the
Earth spins on its axis to create day and night skies. It would be important to include the use of a
globe to help illustrate this spinning.
It will be explained that the sun does not move but rather Earth is slowly spinning on its axis and
that it will take 24 hours for a complete rotation. The students will also learn what the sun is
made of and how it is our only light source. The moon will also be discussed and students will
learn what the moon is made of and how it travels around the Earth.
The teacher will use clouds, birds, comets, and planes as examples of items that move across the
sky and how their movements are more evident than the actual movement of Earth and the moon.
To demonstrate what they learned, the students will work in small groups and discuss the facts
they learned regarding the differences in the day and night sky. Students will then use the web
tool Popplet.com and individually create a popplet. The students will use Earth as their main
topic and create additional popplets that can consist of drawings or text to illustrate the facts they
have learned regarding the differences between the day and night sky.