The Solar System · B6 Science

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: B6.3.2.1.1 - Explain the difference between a star, a planet and a satellite

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Define a star, a planet and a satellite in their own words, using the key characteristics of each body.
Identify at least three examples of stars, planets and satellites from the solar system (including the Sun, Earth and Moon).
Distinguish between a star, a planet and a satellite based on whether the body produces its own light and what it moves around.
Demonstrate the motion of planets around the Sun and the Moon around the Earth through a physical game or simulation.
Explain, in one or two sentences, why the Sun is a star and the Moon is a satellite, giving reasons for their answers.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Systems (Strand 3)
Sub-strand: The Solar System (3.2)
Content standard: B6.3.2.1 - Show understanding of the motion of bodies in the solar system
Indicator: B6.3.2.1.1 - Explain the difference between a star, a planet and a satellite
Suggested placement: Term 2, Week 4 (Week 16 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. 38
Transcribed from the official NaCCA publication. Check this page against the source.

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

- Show videos, models or pictures of the solar system and engage learners to identify the planets in the system.
- Draw the solar system on the board, using different colours to illustrate the different bodies.
- Learners tell what they see when they view the sky during the night and during day time?
- Based on their answers, use the chart to explain that a star is a heavenly body that produces its own light and is stationary (does not move).
- Using the solar system as an example, guide learners to understand that a planet is a body that moves around a star (e.g. the earth and the other planets move around the sun).
- Similarly, explain to learners that a satellite is a smaller body that moves around a bigger one, e.g. the moon is a satellite of the earth.
- Engage learners in a game that mimics the solar system (e.g. place a chair at the centre of the football field with one learner to represent the sun. Now ask 8 learners to go around the chair in circles to represent the planets).