Description

Students will love these interesting activities regarding the Sun’s brightness, the seasonal appearance of stars, and daily changes of shadows. This resource uses phenomena to engage the students. This resource is designed to address two of the 5th grade standards for NGSS from the Earth’s Place in the Universe strand. Earth’s Place in the Universe

5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.

5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.

Also aligned with Utah SEEd 4th grade standards

Utah SEEd 4.4.1

Construct an explanation that differences in the apparent brightness of the Sun compared to other stars is due to scale. Emphasize relative distance from Earth, not sizes of stars.

Utah SEEd 4.4.2

Analyze and interpret data of observable patterns to show that Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun.

Students will learn that the movements in the solar system affect how we see the night sky and how we see shadows. Students will also learn that stars may be bigger than our Sun, but not appear that way because of the great distance they are from Earth.

Students will also learn about the make-up and layers of our Sun and about the life cycle of a star. Students will create graphs and answer questions based on the graph they have created.

This resource includes two informative slideshows, hands-on activities, labs, interactive notebook flaps, informational text passages, response pages, 5E lesson plans, worksheets, and a quiz in the format of end of year testing. Answer keys are included. Students will love this 5th grade unit for Earth and Space. Teachers will love the easy to use 5E lessons for 5th-grade science. This resource has over 77 pages/slides. It will take about 13 days to complete if all the pages are used.

Students will use science and engineering practices:

Asking Questions and Defining Problems.
Developing and Using Models.
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions.
Engaging in Argument from Evidence.
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information.