What causes day and night?
Key Stage 3, Science, QCA Scheme of work
Unit 7L.1 The solar system and beyond (Year 7)
Prior Learning
At Key Stage 2 students will have considered the evidence for the sun, Earth and moon being spherical. They should be familiar with using models to show their relative sizes.
Objectives
By the end of the lesson:
- All students will know that day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation not by the sun moving
- Most students will know that night is caused by the Earth casting a shadow
- Some students will know that temperature falls at night when we don't get warmth from the sun
Lesson plan
Starter
The true and false exercise could be done in two teams, alternating who answers and noting points for correct answers, or as individuals. Alternatively, paper based student sheet version could be done individually, or in pairs, and stuck into book.
Lesson resources
Main Body
Do classic demo of half the Earth in light and half in shade to show day and night and show animation of same setup. Use the worksheet to record into exercise books.
Discuss temperature variation for day and night. If possible use light sensor to compare the difference between light and shadow, and discuss. (If your light source produces enough heat you may be able to use a sensitive temperature sensor if the distances are short enough)
Football
Lamp or torch
Light sensor (optional) Day and night animation
An animation created showing day and night. Day and night worksheet
Size: 289kb
PDF document containing a copy and complete exercise. Day and night worksheet
Size: 290kb
PDF document containing a cut and stick exercise. Day and night worksheet answers
Size: 286kb
PDF document containing the answers to the worksheet.
Plenary
Using heads and tails worksheet exercise, get the students to complete the sentences.
