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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. How long does the Earth take to spin once? (one week / one year / about 24 hours / one month) → about 24 hoursPrompt: It is one day and one night.
  2. The Sun rises at 07:45 and sets at 19:00. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 11.25 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.
  3. Why does the Sun seem to move across the sky? (The Earth is rotating / The wind pushes it / It is falling / The Sun orbits the Earth each day) → The Earth is rotatingPrompt: Think about watching trees from a moving train.

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. When it is summer in the UK, the Northern Hemisphere is… (furthest from the Sun because of distance / tilted towards the Sun / tilted away from the Sun / not tilted) → tilted towards the SunPrompt: Summer comes with longer days and more direct sunlight.
  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. 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?
  2. When it is summer in the UK, the Northern Hemisphere is… (not tilted / tilted away from the Sun / tilted towards the Sun / furthest from the Sun because of distance) → tilted towards the SunPrompt: Summer comes with longer days and more direct sunlight.

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

    Seasons and orbit: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. The Earth orbits the Sun once a year.
    • B. Seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are opposite.
    • C. Earth's axis is tilted.
    • D. The Earth takes one day to orbit the Sun.

  3. Question 3

    By how many degrees is Earth's axis tilted?

    • A. about 23.5°
    • B. 45°
    • C. 0°
    • D. 90°

  4. Question 4

    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

  5. Question 5

    What causes the seasons?

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

  6. Question 6

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

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

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Answer key: Earth's orbit, years and seasons

  1. 1. 2922

  2. 2. D. The Earth takes one day to orbit the Sun.

  3. 3. A. about 23.5°

  4. 4. 4383

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

  6. 6. C. about 365¼ days