The document provides instructions for a take-home activity to observe and record the apparent daily motion of the sun. Students are asked to draw pictures of the location of the sun at different times of the day using a compass to determine north. Definitions of key terms like sun, moon, orbit, and phases are also included. Safety tips are provided, and an optional extra activity using an online drawing tool is described.
2. Academic Science Standard 3- The Physical Setting Indicator 3.3.1- Observe and describe the apparent motion of the sun and moon over a time span of one day. This activity will be a take home activity! Materials: Sunglasses Pencil Paper/worksheet Compass Computer (if available)
3. Definitions Sun- the very hot star located at the center of the solar system. It takes up almost all of the mass of our solar system. Provides light on Earth. Is larger than the Earth. Moon- a dark, cold rock which is a natural satellite. It is one of the largest objects in the sky. It is smaller than the Earth and is at a greater distance away from the Earth than the sun.
4. Definitions Sunrise- the daily event of the sun rising above the horizon; dawn or the first light of the day. Sunset- the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon. Orbit- the path described when revolving around the center of an attraction or specific point. Phases of the Moon- the different stages of the moon during its orbit around the Earth.
5. Information About The Motion Of The Sun The sun rotates or spins on it’s axis or center point. The Earth revolves or orbits around the sun. The sun is at the center of the solar system and rotates approximately once every 27 days, which is almost the length of one month. It takes 365 days or one year for the Earth to revolve around the sun.
6. Information About The Motion Of The Sun The Earth rotates once every 24 hours or once a day, so you will never see the sun or moon in any one place twice in one day or 24 hours. When looking at the Earth with the North direction facing up, the Earth rotates counter clockwise, or to the right. The sun always rises in the East and sets in the West. The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening. The sunrise and sunset are not at specific times of the day. Each day is different.
7. Information About The Motion Of The Moon The motion of the moon is similar to the motion of the sun. The moon moves to the west among the stars. You can see the moon both during the night and during the day depending on its phase. The moon orbits around the Earth. The moon helps determine a specific amount of time or the length of one month. The moon only shines because of reflected sunlight.
8. These are the different phases the moon goes through over the course of 27 days, which is about the length of one month.
9. Instructions This activity will take the course of one day. You are going to draw the different motions of the sun in one day. You will record and draw a picture that represents the location of the sun as you see it throughout the day. You will record your findings a total of six times; at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 or 6:30 p.m. (circle on worksheet if you observed at 6 or 6:30 to see the sunset)
10. Instructions Take the compass out of the box when outside. Use the compass to determine which direction is North. When facing North, look to see where the sun is located. Stand in the exact same location every time you are recording the motion of the sun. Draw your pictures and observations in the labeled boxes on the worksheet with small houses. When looking at the paper, or the house on the paper you should be facing North. Draw a picture that represents the location of the sun in relation to your house at all of the different times listed on the worksheet.
11. Safety Be sure to wear sunglasses when outside and trying to determine the location of the sun. Stand in a location that is not close to the road or other dangerous areas, such as a ditch or lake. If you are unable to use the compass, ask a family member or someone older than you to help you use the equipment.
12. An Extra Fun Activity! If you have access to a computer with the internet at your house, you can do an extra activity for fun. Go to www.miniclip.com Click on Sketch Star. Then click Start. You are then able to create your own drawing of the location of the sun in relation to the direction North. Click Add Blank to add more than one picture. If you click Play after you are done drawing several pictures, it will display all of the pictures you created in a clip.
13. Assessment The sun rises in the East and moves throughout the day in one certain direction. In the evening, the sun sets in the _______? North South East West
14. Assessment In which direction does the moon move among the stars? East South West North
15. References Information for this lesson plan was retrieved from the following websites: http://www.eyeonthesky.org/lessonplans/06sun_motionplayground.html http://www.indianastandards.org/resources.asp?Subject=sci&Grade=3&Standard=3&Indicator=3.3.1&Resource=3882 http://www.indianastandards.org/files/sci/sci_3_3_where%20the%20sun%20goes.pdf
