6th Grade Science Guide

6.1.1: Moon & Seasons 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 1

● Determine what knowledge students already have about the reasons we experience seasons on Earth.

● Students are asked to study a picture of the Earth as it rotates around the sun, make

● Worksheet

observations, and then attempt to explain which location would represent Summer and why.

Activity: Gizmo - Seasons: Why do we have them?

Objective

Overview

Materials

● I can use models to explain how amount of sunlight leads to seasons.

● Learn why the temperature in the summertime is higher than it is in the winter by studying the amount of light striking the Earth. Experiment with a plate detector to measure the amount of light striking the plate as the angle of the plate is adjusted (and then use a group of plates placed at different locations on the Earth) and measure the incoming radiation on each plate.

● Seasons, why do we have them?

Activity: Direct vs. Indirect Sunlight

Objective

Overview

Materials

● Students will model the intensity of the Sun’s rays striking Earth at different places, by using a fashlight and graph paper.

● I can use models to explain how the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its yearly orbit around the sun produce seasons. ● I can identify the differences in direct and indirect light using models.

● Lesson Plan ● Flashlight or other light source ● Colored pencils ● Graph paper ● Protractors ● Textbooks and tape

Activity: Earth’s Tilt

Objective

Overview

Materials

● Students watch a video clip of the Earth rotating around the sun and are asked to make

● VideoClip

● I can describe the yearly orbit of Earth around the sun.