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Associated Teachers’ TV programme
Primary ICT: Whiteboard Science: Electricity and Planets
Science
Unit 5e – Earth, Sun and Moon
Objective and background
Main teaching – lesson 1
To learn the names
and order of the planets
To learn how long it
takes: for the Earth to
orbit the Sun; for Earth
to spin once on own
axis; for the Moon to
orbit the Earth etc
To learn why we have
day and night
G&T Use facts to find
out how long it would
take to fly to each of
the planets from Earth
 The Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5
to the plane of its rotation
(anticlockwise).
 The Earth is held in orbit round
Sun by the Sun’s gravitational
pull. Earths moves at 30km/s
 The Sun is a star. All stars give
out a large amount of heat, light
and other forms of energy
 The Moon does not spin on its
axis so we always see the same
side of it
 All the planets in the Solar
System, except Mercury and
Venus, have moons. The Earth’s
moon is one of the largest; about
¼ the size of the Earth. It takes
28 days for the Moon to orbit the
Earth
 All planets orbit Sun
anticlockwise and in the same
plane except Pluto
Term: Autumn
 NB: The Solar System - concept cartoon
 The Sun is a star – hydrogen and helium – produces light. A planet does not.
(Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto are made of gas)
 Definition from International Astronomers Union: "A planet is a celestial body that
(a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it
assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around
a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet."
 MPeG fly-by: An artist conception flyby view of the 12 currently known planets in
the solar system, whose status are pending the approval of the proposed IAU
resolution. - Starting from the Sun. Note: The planets are not drawn to scale.
 Consolidate Sun’s gravitational pull keeps Earth in orbit. How long does it take for
Earth to make one orbit of Sun? (364 ¼ days – anticlockwise. 365 days, 5 hours,
48mins 46 sec.s) Over correction, so every centurial year e.g. not divisible by 4, eg
1800, 2100 a leap year does not occur)
 The Earth spins on its own axis. How long does it take to rotate once? (24 hours – 1
day) The Earth’s gravitational pull keeps the Moon in orbit. How long does it take
for the Moon to orbit the Earth once? (28 days / 27 days, 7hours, 43 mins)
 How long does it take to fly to America? Explain G&T task, (see right) write class
estimates on board
Activities
 Learn the order of the Planets: My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming
Planets (SEN: photocopy of Solar System + spellings)
 What is the main difference between a star and a planet?
 Draw the Sun, Earth and Moon, draw orbits and write in times
Year
Group:
5/6
Plenary
G&T
Using statistics:
if an aeroplane
travels at an
average speed of
900km/h, how
long would it
take to travel to
each of the
planets starting
from Earth?
Share findings.
Who was the
closest?!