Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon

Subject/Area Science Class Date Session 1 AM ref

Primary Learning  To know that the Sun, Earth and Moon are spherical. To know the relative size and distances between the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Intention(s)  To know that the Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits the Earth. To make careful observations.
Differentiated
Main teaching focus Groups Success criteria
group activities

The Big Question: Start by showing a video clip of any space mission take off and images of the Earth. Explain that we know the Earth is spherical
because we have seen it from space. This has only been in the last 50 years or so since space travel. We have known the Earth is spherical long before Analysis
 Diagrams drawn to
this. (The Ancient Greeks knew) How did we know the Earth was spherical without having any direct evidence? (I.e. a photograph). Record any
show the person
ideas they have. Blue Try to relate the
slowing
and differences they see
disappearing over
Activity 1 White in the two activities
the horizon of the
Set up some experiments for the children to carry out in mixed ability groups. This will test their observational and recording skills. to the curvature of
globe.
1. A globe with a toy person blu-tacked to it. Children keep their eyes level with the surface of the globe as it spins around. Record how much the globe.
of the toy person they can see as the globe spins. (As the globe turns, they should draw the bottom part of the toy disappearing.)  Shadows of sticks
on the globe drawn
in different
2. Place a couple of cocktail sticks on a globe, one at the equator and one by GB. They must be perpendicular to the surface of the globe.
Comprehension directions.
Place a further couple of cocktail sticks standing vertically upright in some plasticine on the flat table. Shine a torch onto the globe and
 Shadows of sticks
record the shadow that is produced. Now repeat with the sticks on the table. (The shadows drawn on the globe will be at different angles to
Record observations on the table drawn
each other. The shadows drawn on the flat surface will be identical.) Orange
they make in the in the same
Mini Plenary and
two activities and direction.
Go through what they have observed and make any corrections to their findings if necessary. Explain that it is indirect evidence such as this that Yellow
made people realise a long time ago that Earth was spherical. identify the
differences that they
see.
Different coloured post-it notes. A Beach ball, football, tennis ball, orange, peppercorn, round bead, pea seed,
Resources
Torches Globes DVD of space shuttle taking off (In school) Worksheets from additional resources pack.

Grou Differentiated
Main teaching focus Success criteria
ps group activities
‘Sun’ person stands still in the middle of the circle.
Key question(s):
1. Which sphere best represents the sizes of the Sun and Moon? Comprehension ‘Earth’ person is spinning in an anticlockwise direction while
Give the children rotating in an anticlockwise direction around the sun.
Activity 2 the advanced card.
Show the children a selection of spheres. Ask: if the pea presents the size of the Earth, which would be the ‘Moon’ person rotates around the Earth in an anti-clockwise
Sun and which would be the Moon? (Sun = beach ball. Moon = bead.) In groups, discuss and share what direction while always facing the Earth.
their choice is for the Sun and the Moon. (Results to be discussed during the plenary.) ‘Sun’ person stands still in the middle of the circle.
Take them into the Hall or the playground.
Working in groups of 4. Explain that the Earth orbits the Sun in an anticlockwise direction; The Moon ‘Earth’ person is while rotating in an anticlockwise direction around
orbits the Earth in an anticlockwise direction (more able); the same side of the Moon always faces the the sun.
Comprehension
Earth; The Sun does not move. Can the children convert this information into a ‘human working diagram’ Adult Help
of how the three spheres are related to each other? 3 of the children take on the role of the 3 spheres. The ‘Moon’ person rotates around the Earth while always facing the
Give the children
4th person in each group should be co-ordinating the other 3 children and checking they are moving Earth.
the basic card.
correctly.

Resources Images of the Sun, Earth and Moon to be stuck onto strips of card to Summary to Recap the information they have discovered today. Show the clip below, which is of a solar
make headbands. the session eclipse.
 Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun_and_planets/sun#p006p6ll
(Inc.
Explain that the strange coincidence that allows this to happen: the moon is 400 times small
Instruction cards. expected
outcomes) that than the Sun, but the Sun is 400 times further away from the Earth than the Moon. This
means that they appear to be the same size in the sky.
Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon
Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon
Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon

Activity 1A Disappearing people.
 Turn the ball/globe until the person attached to
it is on top.
 Move your head until your eyes are level with
the top of the ball.
 Draw the outline of the person on the globe.
 Now spin the globe so the person moves away
from you.
 Move your head until your eyes are level with
the top of the ball.
 Draw what you see of the outline of the person
on the globe.
 Now spin the globe again so the person moves
away from you a little further.
 Move your head until your eyes are level with
the top of the ball.
 Draw what you see of the outline of the
person on the globe.
Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon
 Place a toy person on your table.
 Move you head until your eyes are level with
the top of the table.
 Draw what you see of the person on the table.
 Now move the person to the end of the table.
 Move you head until your eyes are level with
the top of the table.
 Draw what you see of the person on the table.
 Now move the person to the end of the
classroom.
 Move you head until your eyes are level with
the top of the table.
 Draw what you see of the person on the table.
 Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon

Activity 1B. Shadow Sticks

Look at the cocktail sticks on the globe. Look at the cocktail sticks on the table.
Shine a torch from below onto the sticks. Shine a torch from the front onto the
Record the shadows you see. sticks.
Record the shadows you see.

Shadows on the globe Shadows on the table

Compare the 2 shadows on the globe with the 2 shadows on the table.
Describe the differences between the two sets of shadows.

Orbiting Spheres
(Yellow and Orange)
 Cut out the pictures of the Sun, Earth and
Moon.
 Stick each one to a strip of paper and fit onto
your head.
 One person is the Sun; one person is the
Earth; one person is the Moon and the 4th
person is the leader.
 You are now going to make a human orrery.
This demonstrates the movement of the Sun
and planets in our Solar System.
 Each person takes up the correct position
using the instructions below.
 The Sun is in the centre of the Solar System.
All the planets and Moons orbit around the
Sun.
 The Earth orbits around the Sun in an anti-
clockwise direction.
 The Moon orbits around the Earth in an anti-
clockwise direction.
 The same side of the Moon always faces the
Earth.
Science/ Earth, Sun and Moon
Orbiting Spheres
(White and Blue)
 Cut out the pictures of the Sun, Earth and
Moon.
 Stick each one to a strip of paper and fit onto
your head.
 One person is the Sun; one person is the
Earth; one person is the Moon and the 4th
person is the leader.
 You are now going to make a human orrery.
This demonstrates the movement of the Sun
and planets in our Solar System.
 Each person takes up the correct position
using the instructions below.
 The Sun is in the centre of the Solar System.
All the planets and Moons orbit around the
Sun.
 The Earth spins on its axis in an anti-
clockwise direction.
 The Earth orbits around the Sun in an anti-
clockwise direction.
 The Moon orbits around the Earth in an anti-
clockwise direction.
 The Moon spins on its axis in an anti-
clockwise direction so that the same side of
the Moon always faces the Earth.