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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Day and night

Space

CCSS NGSS.5-ESS1-2CCSS NGSS.1-ESS1-1England: KS2 Y5 Earth and space

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Day and night.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: The Sun, Moon and stars

Leads to: The Moon and its phases; Earth's orbit, years and seasons; Shadow length and direction through the day

Materials: Torch and ball for a Sun-Earth-Moon model, Space images, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The Sun, Moon and stars). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is the Sun? (a star / a planet / a moon / a comet) → a starPrompt: It makes its own light, like the stars at night.
  2. Sun, Moon and stars: which statement is true? (The Sun is a star. / You can only see the Moon at night. / The Moon makes its own light. / The Sun goes round the Earth.) → The Sun is a star.Prompt: Which objects make their own light?
  3. Sun, Moon and stars: which statement is NOT true? (You can only see the Moon at night. / The Moon reflects light from the Sun. / The Sun is a star. / Stars are still in the sky during the day.) → You can only see the Moon at night.Prompt: Does the Sun really move round us?

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
  • Share the objective: Day and night. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: When it is daytime in the UK, it is night-time in…
  • Step 1: New Zealand is roughly on the opposite side of Earth, so it faces away from the Sun.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: New Zealand
  • Answer: New Zealand
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. How long does the Earth take to spin once? (one week / one month / one year / about 24 hours) → about 24 hoursPrompt: It is one day and one night.
  2. The Sun rises at 08:00 and sets at 19:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 11.5 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. The Sun rises at 07:45 and sets at 19:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 11.75 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.
  2. Why does the Sun seem to move across the sky? (The wind pushes it / It is falling / The Earth is rotating / The Sun orbits the Earth each day) → The Earth is rotatingPrompt: Think about watching trees from a moving train.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: The Sun, Moon and stars.
  • Use concrete materials: torch and ball for a sun-earth-moon model.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: The Moon and its phases; Earth's orbit, years and seasons; Shadow length and direction through the day.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Day and night

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Day and night: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. It is always daytime somewhere on Earth.
    • B. Shadows change length and direction during the day.
    • C. The Sun travels around the Earth once a day.
    • D. The Earth rotates once about every 24 hours.

  2. Question 2

    What causes day and night?

    • A. the Moon blocking the Sun
    • B. the Earth spinning on its axis
    • C. clouds covering the sky
    • D. the Sun moving around the Earth

  3. Question 3

    The Sun rises at 06:00 and sets at 19:15. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

  4. Question 4

    When it is daytime in the UK, it is night-time in…

    • A. New Zealand
    • B. France
    • C. Ireland
    • D. Spain

  5. Question 5

    The Sun rises at 07:30 and sets at 21:45. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

  6. Question 6

    How long does the Earth take to spin once?

    • A. about 24 hours
    • B. one month
    • C. one week
    • D. one year

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Answer key: Day and night

  1. 1. C. The Sun travels around the Earth once a day.

  2. 2. B. the Earth spinning on its axis

  3. 3. 13.25 h

  4. 4. A. New Zealand

  5. 5. 14.25 h

  6. 6. A. about 24 hours