Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes
Sun, Earth and Moon: shapes, sizes and distances
Space
CCSS NGSS.5-ESS1-1England: KS2 Y5 Earth and space
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Sun, Earth and Moon: shapes, sizes and distances.
- 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 planets of the solar system
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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The planets of the solar system). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which planets are the rocky (terrestrial) planets? (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars / Earth and Pluto / Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune / all eight) → Mercury, Venus, Earth and MarsPrompt: They are the four closest to the Sun.
- Which planet is known as the Red Planet? (Jupiter / Mars / Venus / Mercury) → MarsPrompt: Its surface is covered in iron oxide (rust) dust.
- Which planet is the hottest? (Jupiter / Mars / Mercury / Venus) → VenusPrompt: It is not the closest to the Sun, but it has a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere.
Hook · 6 min
- Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
- Share the objective: Sun, Earth and Moon: shapes, sizes and distances. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: About how many Earths would fit side by side across the Sun?
- Step 1: The Sun's diameter is about 109 times Earth's.
- Step 2: So the answer is: about 109
- Answer: about 109
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- What shape are the Sun, Earth and Moon? (flat discs / roughly spheres (balls) / cubes / cones) → roughly spheres (balls)Prompt: Photos from space show it clearly.
- True or false? Earth is bigger than the Moon. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Compare sizes and distances.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- In a scale model, Earth is a ball 8 cm wide. The Sun is about 109 times wider than Earth. How wide should the model Sun be? → 872 cmPrompt: Multiply 8 by 109.
- True or false? Earth is bigger than the Moon. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Compare sizes and distances.
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 planets of the solar system.
- 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