B6 Science · Term 1 Week 6: Earth Science

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: B6.2.1.1.1 - Describe the relative sizes of the earth and sun and their importance

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

State clearly that the sun is much larger than the earth, giving the approximate comparative size (about 1.3 million earths could fit inside the sun).
Explain that the sun appears small in the sky because of its great distance from the earth, not because it is actually small.
Describe at least two functions of the sun’s size, such as providing heat and light energy, and holding the planets in orbit through its gravity.
Justify why the sun, not the earth, is the centre of the solar system, using size and gravitational pull as evidence.
Predict what would happen to the length of day and night if the earth were bigger than the sun, using reasoning from the relative sizes and movements of the two bodies.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Cycles (Strand 2)
Sub-strand: Earth Science (2.1)
Content standard: B6.2.1.1 - Recognise the relationship between the earth and the sun
Indicator: B6.2.1.1.1 - Describe the relative sizes of the earth and sun and their importance
Suggested placement: Term 1, Week 6 (Week 6 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: Science Curriculum (Basic 4-6), 2019, p. 36
Transcribed from the official NaCCA publication. Check this page against the source.

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

- Prior to the lesson, task learners to investigate the relative size of the sun in relation to its function in the solar system.
- Each group presents a report in class for discussion.
- Learners answer the following questions: (1) Which is bigger, the sun or the earth? (2) Which of the two bodies move, the sun or the earth?
- Evaluate learners by asking: "if the earth was bigger than the sun, how would that affect the length of day and night?"