Science KS 2 Unit 5E Earth, Sun and Moon

In this unit children learn about the shapes and relative sizes of the Earth, Sun and Moon. Using models they learn how the three bodies move relative to each other and how these movements relate to night and day. Experimental and investigative work in this unit focuses on:

• making observations and recognising patterns in first hand and secondary data.
• representing data in graphs.

Work in this unit offers opportunities for children to relate scientific knowledge and understanding to familiar phenomena eg day length, year length and to consider scientific evidence about the Earth, Sun and Moon. A visit to a planetarium or of a 'starlab' can enhance the teaching of this topic

This unit takes approximately 11 hours.

OTHER RESOURCES

• video or other secondary sources eg photographs of Earth taken from space
• photographs of Sun, Moon and Earth
• globe with small object attached
• secondary sources providing information about earlier ideas of the shape of the Earth
• selection of spheres of different sizes including a beach ball, pea and beads about 1/4 size of a pea
• compass
• shadow stick
• torch with powerful beam
• secondary data about times of sunrise and sunset
• secondary sources providing information about how the appearance of the Moon changes over a 28-day period