Courtney Crawford

ELD 376
March 3, 2015
Space Science Lesson Plan
A Day on Earth
This lesson can be used to teach elementary students (grades first to third) about how night and
day are created on earth. It goes through the process of explaining what an axis is and highlights
the different hemispheres on earth, explaining why there are different seasons.
Next Generation Science Standard:
ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: Patters of the motion of the sun, moon, and stars in the sky
can be observed, described, and predicted.
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: Seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset can be observed,
described, and predicted.
W.1.7 - Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of how-to
books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions). (1-ESS1-1), (1-ESS1-2)
W.1.8 - With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather
information from provided sources to answer a question.
MP.5 - Use appropriate tools strategically
After this lesson, students will be able to:

Identify the different hemispheres on Earth, describe how the Earth is tilted and the
impact it creates, describe how the different seasons are created
Prior Knowledge: Know that we experience different seasons, but not understand why.
Acknowledge that the day goes from light to dark
Materials: http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/solar-system/day-onearth.htm
Lesson Model: 5Es

ENGAGE: Divide students into four groups and assign each group a season. Have each
group come up with characteristics of that season. Then within the same group, have students
explore the idea of night and day and what differentiates the two time zones. Allow for 5
minutes to pass by and regather students at the carpet. Have a couple students from each
group share their findings about the season they were assigned and something they noticed
about the difference between night and day.
EXPLORE: Play the video: http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/solarsystem/day-on-earth.htm , which explains the purpose for night and day and for seasons.
Throughout the movie clip, stop and have students turn and talk for one minute to discuss
why they think night and day occurs. Then have students turn and talk for one minute about
why they think seasons occur.
EXPLAIN: In their science journals, have students define the following words as a group and
then write a sentence for each word: rotate, orbit, axis, and seasons. Reiterate important
points from the clip: what creates day and the importance of the Earths tilt.
ELABORATE: Act it out: choose three students to come at a time to come to the front of the
room. One student will act as the sun, spinning in the middle of the students. One student will
act as the earth, rotating around the sun. Have the remaining student act out what the weather
would be like depending upon how close the earth is to the sun.
EVALUATE: Have students write down on a sticky note three things they learned from
todays lesson. Have students share aloud what questions they still have about night and day
and the seasons. Evaluation will also take place during each turn and talk sequence and the
students participation in their science journal.
For Further Study: To extend this lesson, have students write down what they think the
weather on the other planets is like as a result to their proximity/ distance from the sun based
on what they learned about Earth. Have students compare and contrast what the seasons are
like throughout the world in different areas of the northern and southern hemisphere at the
same time.
Accommodations for Diversity: If students need accommodation, provide a handout with the
vocabulary words on it beforehand as well as an outline of the clip so they are able to take
notes. Place students with visual needs closer to the area where the acting out will be taking
place. Allow a student with attention needs to watch the clip on an ipad simultaneously.