Short Term Planning

 Date: February Class level: 3rd class Subject: Science/Geography

Strand: Energy & Forces Strand Unit: Heat, Light, Planet Earth in Space
Natural Environments

 Skills: Questioning, observing, predicting, Investigating & experimenting, analysing

(sorting & classifying, recognising patterns & interpreting), Recording & communicating.

Learning Outcomes: Learning activities:

 Writing inquiry questions about The Sun,
 understand that the sun is the
Seasons and Space
Earth's most important heat
 Reading from Small World Geography and
source
Science
 recognise that the sun gives
 Videos: Seasons and the Sun Crash Course for
us heat and light, without
Kids and National Geographic for Kids – The
which people and animals could
Solar System
not survive
 Discuss the length of days in different seasons
 be aware of the dangers of
& in different parts of the world: Northern
looking directly at the sun
hemisphere & Southern hemisphere.
 learn that light is a form of
 Active learning to demonstrate the earth’s
energy
rotation, axis, orbit and their effect on seasons
 observe, describe and record
and daylight.
the positions of the sun when
 Research in the computer room (Ducksters.com,
rising and setting and the
sciencekids.co.nz, kidsastronomy.com,
changing lengths of day and
natgeokids.com)/lucky dip research
night during the seasons
 Writing and presenting reports about various
 investigate shadows,
aspects of space and the solar system.
directions and sunlight
 Children will learn about shadows. Make shadows
 understand the importance of
using torches.
sunlight for plants and animals
 Children will look at how plants make food & how
 begin to understand the
they require sunlight for photosynthesis.
influence of the sun on
 Children will look at the dangers & importance
weather and atmospheric
of sunlight for both plants & animals. (Sun
conditions
Safety Quiz).
 become aware of the dangers
of sunlight for skin and
 Resources:
eyesight
 Resources: PowerPoint presentation on the sun &
 solar system (Twinkl)
 Worksheet on the sun (safety quiz)
 Small World Text book & Activity book

 Differentiation: Differentiated worksheets, group work with mixed ability groups.

 Assessment: Marking completed workbooks, observation. Creating inquiry questions.

 Linkage and Integration: English, Creative Writing Space Theme, SPHE,