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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes

Solar and lunar eclipses

Space

CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS1-1England: KS3 Physics: Space physics

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Solar and lunar eclipses.

  • 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 Moon and its phases

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 Moon and its phases). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Among the main phases of the Moon, which comes straight after "full moon"? (first quarter / new moon / last quarter) → last quarterPrompt: Is the lit part getting bigger or smaller at this stage?
  2. About how long is the cycle of Moon phases? (7 days / 365 days / 24 hours / about 29.5 days) → about 29.5 daysPrompt: It is roughly a month.
  3. Among the phases of the Moon, starting from new moon, which comes straight after "last quarter"? (waxing crescent / waning gibbous / new moon / waning crescent) → waning crescentPrompt: "Waxing" means the lit part is growing.

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
  • Share the objective: Solar and lunar eclipses. 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: Which type of eclipse is this: the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon?
  • Step 1: In a lunar eclipse the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, and Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: lunar eclipse
  • Answer: lunar eclipse
  • 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. Which type of eclipse is this: the sky goes dark during the day? (solar eclipse / lunar eclipse) → solar eclipsePrompt: Which object is in the middle: the Moon or the Earth?
  2. How can the small Moon cover the huge Sun in a total solar eclipse? (It is an illusion caused by clouds / The Sun is about 400 times bigger but also about 400 times further away / The Sun shrinks during eclipses / The Moon is bigger than the Sun) → The Sun is about 400 times bigger but also about 400 times further awayPrompt: Hold a coin close to your eye and look at a distant building.

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. How can the small Moon cover the huge Sun in a total solar eclipse? (The Sun shrinks during eclipses / It is an illusion caused by clouds / The Moon is bigger than the Sun / The Sun is about 400 times bigger but also about 400 times further away) → The Sun is about 400 times bigger but also about 400 times further awayPrompt: Hold a coin close to your eye and look at a distant building.
  2. Which type of eclipse is this: the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon? (solar eclipse / lunar eclipse) → lunar eclipsePrompt: Which object is in the middle: the Moon or the Earth?

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 Moon and its phases.
  • 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

  • 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-7.

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

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Solar and lunar eclipses

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Why is it never safe to look directly at a solar eclipse?

    • A. It makes you dizzy
    • B. It is too dark to see
    • C. The Moon is radioactive
    • D. The Sun's light can damage your eyes even when partly covered

  2. Question 2

    Eclipses: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. In a solar eclipse the Earth's shadow covers the Sun.
    • B. A lunar eclipse is safe to look at with your eyes.
    • C. During a total solar eclipse, the sky becomes dark enough to see some stars.
    • D. A solar eclipse happens at new moon.

  3. Question 3

    Which type of eclipse is this: the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth?

    • A. solar eclipse
    • B. lunar eclipse

  4. Question 4

    Why isn't there a solar eclipse every month?

    • A. The Moon's orbit is tilted, so it usually passes above or below the Sun's line
    • B. Eclipses only happen in summer
    • C. The Moon stops in some months
    • D. The Sun is too small

  5. Question 5

    Which type of eclipse is this: it can only happen at full moon?

    • A. solar eclipse
    • B. lunar eclipse

  6. Question 6

    Which type of eclipse is this: the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon?

    • A. solar eclipse
    • B. lunar eclipse

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Answer key: Solar and lunar eclipses

  1. 1. D. The Sun's light can damage your eyes even when partly covered

  2. 2. A. In a solar eclipse the Earth's shadow covers the Sun.

  3. 3. A. solar eclipse

  4. 4. A. The Moon's orbit is tilted, so it usually passes above or below the Sun's line

  5. 5. B. lunar eclipse

  6. 6. B. lunar eclipse