Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will understand how the interactions between the Earth and the Sun cause regular changes, such as day and night, and how these interactions can lead to changes in the Earth's surface, like seasons and weather patterns.
Materials and Prep
- Paper
- Pencil or crayons
- Access to sunlight (outdoor space or window)
- Knowledge about the Earth’s rotation and orbit around the Sun
Activities
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Sunshadow Art: Go outside and observe how your shadow changes as the Sun moves across the sky. Have the student trace their shadow at different times of the day on paper and color them in. This will help them see how the position of the Sun affects shadows.
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Earth & Sun Model: Using the paper and crayons, the student can create a simple model of the Earth and Sun. They can draw the Sun and the Earth, showing how the Earth rotates and revolves around the Sun. This visual representation will help them understand the concepts better.
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Weather Wheel: Have the student draw a large circle divided into sections for each season. They can illustrate what the weather is like in each season and how it changes. This activity will connect the concept of the Earth’s tilt and orbit with seasonal changes.
Talking Points
- "Did you know that the Earth spins on its axis? That’s why we have day and night!"
- "The Earth takes a whole year to go around the Sun. That’s what gives us our seasons!"
- "When the Sun shines on the Earth, it warms it up. This can change things like weather and plants growing!"
- "What happens to your shadow when the Sun is high in the sky? It gets shorter! Isn’t that cool?"
- "Seasons change because of the Earth’s tilt. When it tilts towards the Sun, it’s summer; when it tilts away, it’s winter!"