Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

Science lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes

Sun or shade: which spot gets warmer?

Energy

CCSS NGSS.K-PS3-1England: EYFS Understanding the World: The natural worldEngland: KS1 Y1 Seasonal changes

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Sun or shade: which spot gets warmer?.

  • 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: Sunlight warms things

Leads to: Design shade to keep cool in the sun

Materials: Wind-up toys or a pendulum, Energy transfer diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Sunlight warms things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. On a sunny day, which is warmer to touch? (a slide in the sunshine / they are the same / a slide in the shade) → a slide in the sunshinePrompt: What warms things up during the day?
  2. Sunlight: which statement is true? (White clothes get hotter in the sun than black clothes. / The Sun only warms things in summer. / The Sun warms the land, air and water. / Shade is warmer than sunshine.) → The Sun warms the land, air and water.Prompt: Think about standing in the sun and in the shade.
  3. Sunlight: which statement is NOT true? (Dark colours warm up faster in sunlight than light colours. / The Sun warms the land, air and water. / White clothes get hotter in the sun than black clothes. / It is usually cooler in the shade than in sunshine.) → White clothes get hotter in the sun than black clothes.Prompt: Which colour reflects sunlight?

Hook · 3 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: Sun or shade: which spot gets warmer?. 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: Why does a metal slide in the playground feel hot on a sunny afternoon?
  • Step 1: Sunlight warms the things it shines on.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Sunlight has been shining on it and warming it.
  • Answer: Sunlight has been shining on it and warming it.
  • 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. A snowman is built next to a wall. Which part melts first on a sunny day? (neither side ever melts / both sides at exactly the same time / the side in the shade / the side in the sunshine) → the side in the sunshinePrompt: Which side is being warmed by sunlight?
  2. Children measured the temperature of sand in two places: 21 °C and 16 °C. Where was the 21 °C reading most likely taken? (in the sun / in the shade) → in the sunPrompt: Which reading is warmer?

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. On a hot day, why do people sit under a tree? (Trees make it rain. / The tree blocks sunlight, so the shade is cooler. / Trees make cold air like a fridge. / It is darker, so it is warmer.) → The tree blocks sunlight, so the shade is cooler.Prompt: What does the tree stop from reaching you?
  2. Sunlight and warming: which statement is true? (Shade is warmer because it is darker. / Sunlight only warms people, not things. / The Moon warms the Earth at night. / Sunlight warms the ground, water and air.) → Sunlight warms the ground, water and air.Prompt: Think about how the ground feels in the sun and in the shade.

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: Sunlight warms things.
  • Use concrete materials: wind-up toys or a pendulum.
  • 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: Design shade to keep cool in the sun.
  • 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/kindergarten.

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

eurekami

Sun or shade: which spot gets warmer?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Sunlight and warming: which statement is true?

    • A. A dark T-shirt left in the sun gets warmer than a white one.
    • B. A puddle in the sun dries more slowly than one in the shade.
    • C. The Moon warms the Earth at night.
    • D. Sunlight only warms people, not things.

  2. Question 2

    Children measured the temperature of a puddle in two places: 20 °C and 16 °C. Where was the 20 °C reading most likely taken?

    • A. in the sun
    • B. in the shade

  3. Question 3

    On a hot day, why do people sit under a tree?

    • A. The tree blocks sunlight, so the shade is cooler.
    • B. Trees make it rain.
    • C. It is darker, so it is warmer.
    • D. Trees make cold air like a fridge.

  4. Question 4

    Children measured the temperature of sand in two places: 28 °C and 17 °C. Where was the 28 °C reading most likely taken?

    • A. in the sun
    • B. in the shade

  5. Question 5

    A snowman is built next to a wall. Which part melts first on a sunny day?

    • A. the side in the shade
    • B. both sides at exactly the same time
    • C. neither side ever melts
    • D. the side in the sunshine

  6. Question 6

    Children measured the temperature of sand in two places: 32 °C and 22 °C. Where was the 32 °C reading most likely taken?

    • A. in the sun
    • B. in the shade

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Sun or shade: which spot gets warmer?

  1. 1. A. A dark T-shirt left in the sun gets warmer than a white one.

  2. 2. A. in the sun

  3. 3. A. The tree blocks sunlight, so the shade is cooler.

  4. 4. A. in the sun

  5. 5. D. the side in the sunshine

  6. 6. A. in the sun