Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and the changing seasons, and be able to explain why we experience sunsets and sunrises.
Materials and Prep
- Pen and paper
- Access to a window or outdoor space to observe sunrise or sunset
- No prior knowledge required
Activities
- Sunrise/Sunset Observation: Wake up early to observe the sunrise and take notes on the colors and position of the sun. Do the same for the sunset. Compare and contrast your observations.
- Earth-Sun Model: Use a lamp to represent the Sun and a globe to represent the Earth. Demonstrate how the Earth rotates on its axis and orbits around the Sun to create day and night.
- Seasons Exploration: Research and create a diagram showing how the tilt of the Earth's axis causes different seasons in different hemispheres. Discuss how this relates to the length of daylight and the angle of the Sun.
Talking Points
- "The Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night. This rotation also gives us the experience of sunrise and sunset."
- "The Earth orbits around the Sun, which takes approximately 365 days. This orbit creates the changing seasons."
- "The tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for the differences in daylight hours and the angle of sunlight, leading to variations in seasons."