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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Day and night

Space

CCSS NGSS.5-ESS1-2CCSS NGSS.1-ESS1-1England: KS2 Y5 Earth and space

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Day and night.

  • 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 Sun, Moon and stars

Leads to: The Moon and its phases; Earth's orbit, years and seasons; Shadow length and direction through the day

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 Sun, Moon and stars). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Why does the Sun look bigger and brighter than other stars? (It is a different kind of light / It is the biggest star in the universe / Other stars are not real / It is much closer to us) → It is much closer to usPrompt: Things far away look smaller and dimmer.
  2. Sun, Moon and stars: which statement is true? (The Sun appears to move across the sky during the day. / The Sun goes round the Earth. / You can only see the Moon at night. / The Moon makes its own light.) → The Sun appears to move across the sky during the day.Prompt: Which objects make their own light?
  3. Sun, Moon and stars: which statement is NOT true? (You can only see the Moon at night. / The Sun appears to move across the sky during the day. / The Moon reflects light from the Sun. / The Sun is a star.) → You can only see the Moon at night.Prompt: Does the Sun really move round us?

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
  • Share the objective: Day and night. 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: When it is daytime in the UK, it is night-time in…
  • Step 1: New Zealand is roughly on the opposite side of Earth, so it faces away from the Sun.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: New Zealand
  • Answer: New Zealand
  • 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.
  1. What causes day and night? (clouds covering the sky / the Sun moving around the Earth / the Moon blocking the Sun / the Earth spinning on its axis) → the Earth spinning on its axisPrompt: Half the Earth faces the Sun at any time.
  2. The Sun rises at 08:00 and sets at 19:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 11.5 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.

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.
  1. The Sun rises at 07:45 and sets at 18:45. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5). → 11 hPrompt: Count the whole hours first, then the extra minutes.
  2. Day and night: which statement is NOT true? (The Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west. / Shadows change length and direction during the day. / It is always daytime somewhere on Earth. / Day and night happen because the Earth orbits the Sun.) → Day and night happen because the Earth orbits the Sun.Prompt: Rotation and orbit are different movements.

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 Sun, Moon and stars.
  • 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: The Moon and its phases; Earth's orbit, years and seasons; Shadow length and direction through the day.
  • 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-4.

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

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Day and night

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    The Sun rises at 05:30 and sets at 17:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

  2. Question 2

    Day and night: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. It is always daytime somewhere on Earth.
    • B. The Earth rotates once about every 24 hours.
    • C. Day and night happen because the Earth orbits the Sun.
    • D. Shadows change length and direction during the day.

  3. Question 3

    How long does the Earth take to spin once?

    • A. one week
    • B. about 24 hours
    • C. one month
    • D. one year

  4. Question 4

    The Sun rises at 05:30 and sets at 21:15. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

  5. Question 5

    The Sun rises at 06:15 and sets at 18:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

  6. Question 6

    Why does the Sun seem to move across the sky?

    • A. It is falling
    • B. The wind pushes it
    • C. The Earth is rotating
    • D. The Sun orbits the Earth each day

  7. Question 7

    The Sun rises at 08:00 and sets at 19:00. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

  8. Question 8

    The Sun rises at 05:45 and sets at 18:30. How many hours of daylight are there? Give your answer in hours as a decimal (e.g. 12.5).

    Answerh

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Answer key: Day and night

  1. 1. 12 h

  2. 2. C. Day and night happen because the Earth orbits the Sun.

  3. 3. B. about 24 hours

  4. 4. 15.75 h

  5. 5. 12.25 h

  6. 6. C. The Earth is rotating

  7. 7. 11 h

  8. 8. 12.75 h