• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Stars: when we see them and what they are). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What are stars? (holes in the sky / pieces of the Moon / huge, very hot balls of glowing gas, very far away / small lights hanging from the sky) → huge, very hot balls of glowing gas, very far awayPrompt: The Sun is one of them.
2. Stars: which statement is true? (Stars are small and close to Earth. / The Moon is a star. / Groups of stars that make patterns are called constellations. / Stars disappear in the morning and are made again at night.) → Groups of stars that make patterns are called constellations.Prompt: Remember the Sun is our nearest star.
3. True or false? There are more stars than anyone could count. (True / False) → TruePrompt: What hides stars, and how far away are they?

• Ask why we see the Moon change shape over a month.
• Share the objective: Why we see different stars in different seasons. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Why can we see different constellations in winter and summer?
• Step 1: Earth's orbit changes which stars are in the night sky through the year.
• Step 2: So the answer is: As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.
• Answer: As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Why can we see different constellations in winter and summer? (The stars move to new places every season. / Some stars switch off in summer. / As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space. / Clouds hide half the stars each season.) → As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.Prompt: At night we look away from the Sun. Where does "away" point in June and in December?
2. True or false? Constellations change shape every night. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Earth spins (daily) and orbits (yearly). Which explains what?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Why can we see different constellations in winter and summer? (Some stars switch off in summer. / The stars move to new places every season. / As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space. / Clouds hide half the stars each season.) → As Earth orbits the Sun, our night side faces different parts of space.Prompt: At night we look away from the Sun. Where does "away" point in June and in December?
2. What causes this pattern: we see different constellations in winter and summer? (Earth spinning on its axis once a day / Earth orbiting the Sun once a year / the Moon orbiting Earth) → Earth orbiting the Sun once a yearPrompt: Daily patterns come from spinning; yearly patterns from orbiting.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.