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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Earth's orbit, years and seasons

Space

CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS1-1CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS1-2England: KS2 Y5 Earth and spaceEngland: KS3 Physics: Space physics

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Earth's orbit, years and seasons.

  • 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: Day and night; The seasons

Leads to: Orbits and orbital speed (v = 2Ï€r / T)

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 (Day and night; The seasons). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. When it is daytime in the UK, it is night-time in… (Ireland / New Zealand / Spain / France) → New ZealandPrompt: Which place is on the opposite side of the world?
  2. The Sun rises at 07:00 and sets at 20:45. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 13.75 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.
  3. The Sun rises at 06:00 and sets at 21:15. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 15.25 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
  • Share the objective: Earth's orbit, years and seasons. 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: How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun once?
  • Step 1: One orbit takes about 365.25 days, which is why we have a leap year every 4 years.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: about 365¼ days
  • Answer: about 365¼ days
  • 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. By how many degrees is Earth's axis tilted? (90° / 0° / 45° / about 23.5°) → about 23.5°Prompt: It is less than a quarter of a right angle.
  2. A year is 365 days, plus one extra day every 4 years (a leap year). How many days are there in 12 years in a row? → 4383Prompt: How many leap days are there in 12 years?

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. What causes the seasons? (the Moon blocking sunlight / the Sun getting hotter and colder / the tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun / Earth getting closer to and further from the Sun) → the tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the SunPrompt: Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January.
  2. A year is 365 days, plus one extra day every 4 years (a leap year). How many days are there in 12 years in a row? → 4383Prompt: How many leap days are there in 12 years?

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: Day and night.
  • 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: Orbits and orbital speed (v = 2Ï€r / T).
  • 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-6.

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

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Earth's orbit, years and seasons

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A year is 365 days, plus one extra day every 4 years (a leap year). How many days are there in 8 years in a row?

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    When it is summer in the UK, the Northern Hemisphere is…

    • A. furthest from the Sun because of distance
    • B. tilted towards the Sun
    • C. tilted away from the Sun
    • D. not tilted

  3. Question 3

    Seasons and orbit: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are opposite.
    • B. Earth's axis is tilted.
    • C. The Earth orbits the Sun once a year.
    • D. Every place on Earth has the same four seasons.

  4. Question 4

    How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun once?

    • A. 24 hours
    • B. 100 years
    • C. about 365¼ days
    • D. 29.5 days

  5. Question 5

    A year is 365 days, plus one extra day every 4 years (a leap year). How many days are there in 12 years in a row?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    What causes the seasons?

    • A. the tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun
    • B. the Sun getting hotter and colder
    • C. the Moon blocking sunlight
    • D. Earth getting closer to and further from the Sun

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Answer key: Earth's orbit, years and seasons

  1. 1. 2922

  2. 2. B. tilted towards the Sun

  3. 3. D. Every place on Earth has the same four seasons.

  4. 4. C. about 365¼ days

  5. 5. 4383

  6. 6. A. the tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits the Sun