Download Lesson plan on the solar system for Year 6

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
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G&T Use facts to find
out how long it would
take to fly to each of
the planets from
Earth
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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
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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?!