Download Sun, Moon, and Stars - Norwood House Press

Readers
Sun, Moon, and Stars:
A Cosmic Case
by Emily Sohn and Adam Harter
Science Objective
As they read this book, children also observe the regular patterns of the Sun, Moon, and stars in the sky, discovering that
these patterns result from how these objects move, or appear
to move. Children learn how the rotation of Earth on its axis
is responsible for night and day, and how its orbit around
the Sun is responsible for the changes in seasons. Children
discover that they can tell time by looking at shadows and
the position of the Sun.
iScience Puzzle: A Cosmic Whodunit
Materials
In order to discover the identity of a bank robber, children
• gooseneck
must first learn about the movement of the Sun, Moon, and
• softball
stars in the sky. Each section of this book gives clues that
• swivel
help children solve the puzzle.
• table
lamp
chair
Objectives Children will:
• learn
that the Moon travels around Earth.
• observe
the phases of the Moon and discover why the
Moon changes its appearance.
• understand
that Earth travels around the Sun.
• investigate
why the Sun appears to rise in the east and set
in the west every day.
• learn
about stars and their positions in the nighttime sky.
Sun, Moon, and Stars: A Cosmic Case
www.nor woodhousepress.com
Teacher Notes • 1
Lesson Plan
Before Reading
Investigation
Science Concepts
To explore what children know about the Sun,
Moon, and stars, create a KWL chart for each
object on the board. Ask leading questions to
help them fill out the What I Know column. For
example, ask: Does the Moon always look the same?
Where is the Sun at noon?
Accessing prior knowledge gets children thinking
about the topic.
Before children read this book, you may want them
to study the Moon over a month and record its
changes. Then they can relate what they have seen
to the information they will learn in this book.
Making observations is fundamental to the study
of science.
Explain that children will study the Sun, Moon, and stars and learn
that these objects move through the sky in regular patterns. They
will discover what causes the phases of the Moon; what causes
night and day; how seasons change depending on the path of the
Sun; and how people can use stars to navigate. Encourage children
to observe changes in the daytime and nighttime sky and record
their investigations as they answer the questions in the book.
During Reading
Investigation
Science Concepts
pp. 6–7: Have volunteers identify the essential
clues in each suspect’s story. Write them on the
board, and refer to them as children read the book.
The Moon can appear in the day and night.
p. 10: This activity can also be done with three
The Moon orbits Earth. Earth orbits the Sun.
children: Have one child be the Moon, and circle
another child representing Earth; the third child
shines a light. Instruct the “Moon” to walk in a
circle so that he or she is always facing “Earth.”
This will help children understand why the far
side of the Moon can never be seen from Earth.
Earth blocks the Sun’s light when it is between the
Moon and the Sun.
pp. 11–13: Tell children to record where the
Sun and Moon are in the sky. Have them draw
diagrams of the Moon as it goes through its phases.
Ask: What phase was the Moon in last night? What
phase will the Moon be in, in two weeks? Add facts to
the What I Learned column in the KWL chart.
The Moon travels in a regular pattern during a
month.
The phases of the Moon are caused by the
illumination of the Sun that can be seen from
Earth.
Sun, Moon, and Stars: A Cosmic Case
www.nor woodhousepress.com
Teacher Notes • 2
During Reading
(continued)
Investigation
Science Concepts
pp. 14–15: Conduct the Discover Activity again.
Ask: Do you think Earth spins slowly or quickly? Why
would Earth need to change position very slowly in this
activity?
Making observations is fundamental to the study
of science.
pp. 16–21: Make sure children understand that
Earth makes a complete orbit of the Sun in one
year before you address the fact that Earth makes
one rotation each day. Seasons change depending
on Earth’s position during its orbit around the
Sun. Day and night are related to Earth’s position
during its rotation on its axis. Add these facts to
the What I Learned column in the KWL chart.
The Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the
west because Earth is rotating. Earth orbits the Sun
in one year and rotates on its axis every 24 hours.
Earth’s rotation causes day and night. When a
location on Earth is facing the Sun, it is daytime.
p. 21: Discuss why Diz Aster is telling the truth. In
The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
late afternoon in winter, the Sun would shine in a
window on the west side of a building.
p. 22: Bring children outside during different
hours of the day, if possible, and have them
measure the different lengths of the shadows.
Have them record this information in a chart.
Then have them use their observations to discuss
whether Troy Bell is lying.
p. 24: Refer to the first column of the KWL chart
before children read about stars. Ask them if they
can add anything to this column now that they
understand more about Earth and the Sun.
Shadows are the areas of darkness created when
an object blocks the Sun’s light.
Stars are suns that are far away from Earth. They
have different sizes and brightnesses.
pp. 25–26: Continue adding facts to the second
column of the KWL chart. Relate the North Star
to legends or explorers that children have read
about.
Stars appear to change position because of Earth’s
rotation.
p. 27: Bring in connect-the-dots drawings of
Using models is a valid approach to studying
science.
constellations to give children a hands-on activity.
p. 28: Have children state in their own words why
they know that three suspects were telling the
truth and one was lying.
p. 29: Encourage children to continue to observe
and record changes in the Moon, lengths of
shadows, and changes in the seasons over the
next months.
Scientific thinking processes help build
explanations for scientific observations.
Making observations is fundamental to the study
of science.
Sun, Moon, and Stars: A Cosmic Case
www.nor woodhousepress.com
Teacher Notes • 3
After Reading
Restate the key ideas in the book. The Moon orbits around Earth
over a period of 29 days. It reflects light from the Sun as it orbits,
which accounts for its phases. Earth orbits around the Sun, and
turns on its axis over a period of 24 hours. Stars are suns that are
far away from Earth and can be seen in groups called constellations. Stars appear to move because of Earth’s rotation. Encourage
children to restate the main ideas in their own words.
Investigation
Understanding Science
Have children review the information recorded in
the KWL chart. Invite them to add information
to the third column, What I Want to Know. Ask:
What would you like to know more about? How can
you find out? Choose one or two of their topics to
explore as a class activity.
Research skills are tremendously important in
science.
Sun, Moon, and Stars: A Cosmic Case
www.nor woodhousepress.com
Teacher Notes • 4