Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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.
- Among the phases of the Moon, starting from new moon, which comes straight after "first quarter"? (full moon / waning gibbous / waxing gibbous / new moon) → waxing gibbousPrompt: "Waxing" means the lit part is growing.
- Why does the Moon seem to change shape during the month? (Earth's shadow covers it / The Moon really changes shape / We see different amounts of its sunlit half as it orbits Earth / Clouds hide part of it) → We see different amounts of its sunlit half as it orbits EarthPrompt: Half of the Moon is always lit by the Sun.
- Among the main phases of the Moon, which comes straight after "new moon"? (full moon / first quarter / last quarter) → first quarterPrompt: Is the lit part getting bigger or smaller at this stage?
Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 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.
- Which type of eclipse is this: it can only happen at new moon? (solar eclipse / lunar eclipse) → solar eclipsePrompt: Which object is in the middle: the Moon or the Earth?
- Why is it never safe to look directly at a solar eclipse? (The Sun's light can damage your eyes even when partly covered / The Moon is radioactive / It makes you dizzy / It is too dark to see) → The Sun's light can damage your eyes even when partly coveredPrompt: Special eclipse glasses or a pinhole viewer are needed.
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.
- Why is it never safe to look directly at a solar eclipse? (The Moon is radioactive / The Sun's light can damage your eyes even when partly covered / It is too dark to see / It makes you dizzy) → The Sun's light can damage your eyes even when partly coveredPrompt: Special eclipse glasses or a pinhole viewer are needed.
- Eclipses: which statement is NOT true? (A lunar eclipse is safe to look at with your eyes. / During a total solar eclipse, the sky becomes dark enough to see some stars. / Eclipses happen every week. / A lunar eclipse happens at full moon.) → Eclipses happen every week.Prompt: What blocks the Sun in a solar eclipse?
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