Lesson Plan Format

Teacher: Melissa Ojasoo

Grade: 1st
Content Area: Science

Content and Standards: 1-ESS1-1

Prerequisites: Students should know that we live on Earth. Students should be able to identify
some things they do at night and some things they do during the day.

Essential Questions: What makes day and night?

Materials and Equipment: Copy of What Makes Day and Night? By: Franklyn Branley, Copy of
Earth’s Rotation Song, day and night chart to record what we do in the day and night

Instructional Objective: At the end of this lesson students will know that the earth’s rotation is
what makes day and night and be able to demonstrate rotation using their bodies.

Instructional Procedures: List instructional strategies and learning experiences that are in
alignment with the objective(s). Include information about what teaching strategies you will use
to engage students. Include information about what type of technology, manipulatives, etc. you
will use to facilitate students meeting the objectives.

● Before: Students gather on large group carpet. Ask students to think of some things
they do during the day and night. Fill in chart with their ideas. Show students the
cover of the magazine that shows a picture of the Earth taken from the moon. Points
out that the Earth in this picture looks different than I am used to seeing. Show
students a picture of the Earth on the inside page of the magazine. Have students
point out the differences. Tell your neighbor why you think the photographs are
different. You all have some interesting ideas. Let’s read this book and while we do I
want you to think about that picture. Read What Makes Day and NIght text.
● During: Students work in small groups to demonstrate day and night using their bodies
and a flashlight. Their partner will tell them to rotate and then choose and say either
day or night. The student who is pretending to be the earth stops rotating to face the
direction that would make day or night.
● After: Teach and SIng the Earth’s Rotation Song. First part only.
Assessment: Observe students using flashlights as the sun. Are students able to identify
what part of their body in the daylight and what part is having night time?

Differentiated Instruction: An animated video of what makes day and night would support
students who need the idea of Earth’s rotation reinforced.