Earth and Space: Our Solar System
A comprehensive lesson introducing the Solar System, focusing on the spherical nature of celestial bodies, the orbits of planets around the Sun, the Moon's orbit around Earth, and the mechanics of day and night.
Learning objectives
- Describe the movement of the Earth and other planets relative to the Sun in the solar system.
- Describe the movement of the Moon relative to the Earth.
- Describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies.
- Use the idea of the Earth’s rotation to explain day and night and the apparent movement of the sun across the sky.
Lesson plan (60 minutes)
Introduction · 5 min
Hook: Ask students to name as many planets as they can. Show a scale image of the solar system.
Direct Instruction · 15 min
Teacher-led explainer: Using the teaching script to explain the movement of the Earth, Moon and Planets.
Guided Practice · 10 min
Demonstration: Use a torch (Sun) and a globe (Earth) to demonstrate day/night and rotation.
Independent Practice · 20 min
Differentiated Worksheet Completion: Students work through Support, Core, or Stretch tasks.
Review and Assessment · 10 min
Multiple Choice Quiz and Plenary review.
Key vocabulary
- Orbit
- The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon.
- Axis
- An imaginary line through the centre of an object, around which the object spins.
- Spherical
- Shaped like a ball or a globe.
- Gravity
- The force that attracts a body towards the centre of the earth, or towards any other physical body having mass.
- Solar System
- The collection of eight planets and their moons in orbit round the sun.
Core worksheet (first questions)
- Describe the layout of the solar system. Where is the Sun and what do the planets do?
- Compare the four planets closest to the Sun with the four furthest away. What are the two groups called?
- Explain in detail how the Earth's rotation creates the cycle of day and night.
- What is the role of gravity in the solar system?
Quiz (sample)
1. Which object is at the centre of our solar system?
- A. The Earth
- B. The Sun
- C. Jupiter
- D. The Moon
2. How long does it take for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis?
- A. 12 hours
- B. 24 hours
- C. 365 days
- D. 28 days
3. What shape are the Earth, Sun, and Moon approximately?
- A. Flat
- B. Square
- C. Spherical
- D. Cylindrical
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Support and Stretch worksheets, every answer and model answer, the teaching explainer and common misconceptions, editable and ready to print as PDF or Word.
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