• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Stars: when we see them and what they are). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Why did people long ago use star patterns to find their way? (Stars talk to sailors. / The patterns stay the same and appear in predictable places. / Stars point at the nearest town. / Stars only appear above roads.) → The patterns stay the same and appear in predictable places.Prompt: Do star patterns change shape from night to night?
2. Stars: which statement is true? (The Moon is a star. / The Sun is a star. / Stars are small and close to Earth. / Stars disappear in the morning and are made again at night.) → The Sun is a star.Prompt: Remember the Sun is our nearest star.
3. True or false? The stars are closer to us than the Moon. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: What hides stars, and how far away are they?

• Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
• Share the objective: Why we see different stars in different seasons. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Why can we see different constellations in winter and summer?
• Step 1: Earth's orbit changes which stars are in the night sky through the year.
• Step 2: So the answer is: As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.
• Answer: As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Why can we see different constellations in winter and summer? (As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space. / Clouds hide half the stars each season. / Some stars switch off in summer. / The stars move to new places every season.) → As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.Prompt: At night we look away from the Sun. Where does "away" point in June and in December?
2. True or false? The constellations you see at night change through the year. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Earth spins (daily) and orbits (yearly). Which explains what?

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Why can we see different constellations in winter and summer? (As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space. / Clouds hide half the stars each season. / The stars move to new places every season. / Some stars switch off in summer.) → As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.Prompt: At night we look away from the Sun. Where does "away" point in June and in December?
2. What causes this pattern: stars appear to circle around Polaris during the night? (the Moon orbiting Earth / Earth orbiting the Sun once a year / Earth spinning on its axis once a day) → Earth spinning on its axis once a dayPrompt: Daily patterns come from spinning; yearly patterns from orbiting.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.