Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
Day, month and year: spin and orbit times
Space
CCSS NGSS.5-ESS1-2England: KS2 Y5 Earth and space
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Day, month and year: spin and orbit times.
- 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
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Day and night). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How long does the Earth take to spin once? (one month / about 24 hours / one week / one year) → about 24 hoursPrompt: It is one day and one night.
- The Sun rises at 05:15 and sets at 17:15. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 12 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.
- Day and night: which statement is NOT true? (Day and night happen because the Earth orbits the Sun. / Shadows change length and direction during the day. / The Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west. / The Earth rotates once about every 24 hours.) → Day and night happen because the Earth orbits the Sun.Prompt: Rotation and orbit are different movements.
Hook · 5 min
- Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
- Share the objective: Day, month and year: spin and orbit times. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: How long does this take: Earth spinning once on its axis?
- Step 1: So the answer is: about 24 hours (one day)
- Answer: about 24 hours (one day)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- How long does this take: Mars travelling once around the Sun? (about 29½ days (about a month) / about 365¼ days (one year) / about 24 hours (one day) / about 687 Earth days (nearly 2 years)) → about 687 Earth days (nearly 2 years)Prompt: Day, month or year?
- Earth spins once every 24 hours. How many times does it spin in 9 days? → 9Prompt: One spin makes one day.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- True or false? Earth takes one month to orbit the Sun. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Spin = day. Moon's cycle = month. Orbit = year.
- How many hours does Earth take to spin 2 times? → 48 hPrompt: Each spin takes 24 hours.
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
- 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-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder