SJC LESSON PLAN FORMAT

Name: Erin Gorey

School: Bosti Elementary

Course: C.S 414

Date of Lesson: 10/22/15

Cooperating Teacher: Mrs. Whitson

Grade: 4

Specific Lesson: Earth and Sun Relationship

Curriculum Area: Science

Group Size: 24

Central Focus:
This lesson focuses on the relationship between the Earth and the Sun.

Learning Objectives:
The students will understand what the Earths rotation and revolution is, and be able to
explain why we have night and day.

NYS Common Core Learning Standards:

PS1.1- Describe patterns of daily, monthly, and seasonal changes in the atmosphere.
PS1.1a- Natural cycles and patterns include:

Earth spinning around once every 24 hours (rotation), resulting in day and night
Earth moving in a path around the Sun (revolution), resulting in one Earth year

*PS1.1a will be accomplished when the students learn about the Earths rotation and revolution
during the beach ball and flashlight demonstration.

Rationale:
Two weeks ago, a student asked why we have night and day. The students natural
curiosity sparked my interest to teach this lesson. I also wanted to clear up a common
misconception that the Earth is at the center of the solar system. Today the students will learn
that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System and the Earth spins on its axis while revolving
around the Sun. Later in the year, the students will learn why we have seasons.

Materials:
Promethean Board
Elmo projector

50 index cards
Beach ball
2 flashlights
25 worksheets
25 cut-out sheets
50 fasteners
Crayons and scissors (students own)

Development/Procedures
Introduction/Motivation:
The teacher will conduct a trivia-type game asking questions about the Earth on Power
Point slides displayed on the Promethean Board. The students will work in pairs and hold up an
index card to display each multiple choice answer they choose.
Instructional Strategies:
1. The students will do a Turn and Talk with their partner to discuss what they believe is
at the center of the Solar System.
2. The teacher will obtain feedback from a few groups, and explain that the Sun is at the
center of the Solar System.
3. The teacher will describe what the Earths rotation and revolution is.
4. Two volunteer students will stand at the front of the classroom. One student will hold
two flashlights modeling the Sun. The other student will hold a beach ball modeling
the Earth. The student holding the beach ball will slowly spin it on a tilt and walk
around the Sun.
5. The teacher will ask the students why they think we have night and day.
6. The teacher will show how night and day occur, based on where the Sun is hitting the
Earth by using the flashlights and beach ball to model.
7. The students will individually complete a worksheet answering questions about the
information they just learned, as well as a few higher-order thinking questions.

Academic Language:
Earth, Sun, Solar System, axis, rotation, revolution

Differentiation:

Alan, Madison, and Riana wear corrective lenses for distance, so I will be sure they are
seated near the Promethean Board during the lesson. If there is a child with an auditory
impairment, I will be sure that they are also in the front. JD is often distracted and loses focus so
I will scaffold him as he completes the worksheet. Timmy has an IEP and receives extra time on
writing assignments. According to Alans 504 Plan, he must work without any distractions near
him, so I will be sure his desk is cleared before beginning the lesson.

Technology Component:
The teacher will use the Promethean Board to project the Power Point slides. A video
will be viewed as a re-engagement.

Closure:
a.) The students will create an art project which models the Earths revolution around the
Sun.
b.) The teacher will ask the students, What have you learned today?

Assessment:
The teacher will informally observe how the students are grasping the concept of the
Earths rotation and revolution based on their responses to the question, Why do we have night
and day? As a formal assessment, the teacher will evaluate the students on the success of their
worksheet.

Re-engagement:
If a student is struggling with understanding the Sun and Earths placement in the Solar
System, the teacher will play a short video clip from episode 8.1 of Crash Course Kids called
Earths Rotation and Revolution. The students can keep their project in their science notebook
for reference throughout the year.