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The Brightness, Color and Distance Stars Science Reading Comprehension Task

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This is a science reading comprehension task for 4th-grade students. Students will learn about the color of stars, the brightness of stars, and the size of stars.

S4E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare and contrast the
physical attributes of stars and planets.

b. Construct an argument on why some stars (including the Earth’s sun) appear to be larger or
brighter than others. (Clarification statement: Differences are limited to distance and size, not age or stage of evolution.)

 

The-Brightness-Color-Distance-Stars

 



Sun and Shadows Interactive Activity

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I have a few Sun and Shadows Interactive Activity ideas to cover the standard:

S2E2. Students will investigate the position of sun and moon to show patterns throughout the year.
a. Investigate the position of the sun in relation to a fixed object on earth at various times of the day.
b. Determine how the shadows change through the day by making a shadow stick or using a sundial.

Disclaimer: It must be a sunny day to do these activities.

Sundial: I got this idea from the GA frameworks. Go outside in the morning, and put a stick in the ground. The sun rises in the east, so mark EAST on the side pointing where the sun is coming up. WEST is directly across from that, NORTH and SOUTH can be marked at the half-way points. This is a compass rose. Now students can turn this into a clock by marking 12 on NORTH, 3 on EAST, 6 on SOUTH, and 9 on WEST. Fill in the rest of the numbers appropriately. Observe telling time with the sundial throughout the day. Keep notes in journals.

sundail

People Shadow Tracker. Bring students outside in the morning sunlight. Each student works with a partner and chooses a spot to stand. One student stands still while the other traces their shadow on the sidewalk. Come out periodically throughout the day to re-trace shadows from the same standing position and observe how the shadow moves. Record in journal or on shadow worksheet.

shadow experiment

If you would like the shadow worksheet, please leave a comment below.

 

Book to use when teaching shadows: Shadows by April Pulley Sayre

 

photo 1 credit: crayola.com

photo 2 credit: scholastic.com



Science Seasons Demonstration

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During my earth science unit, I need a good visual for students to learn about how the seasons work and why to cover standard:

S2E2. Students will investigate the position of sun and moon to show patterns throughout the year.
c. Relate the length of the day and night to the change in seasons (for example: Days are longer than the night in the summer.)

To do this, I use this science seasons demonstration using a globe of the earth and a flashlight. I also need some student volunteers.

sun

The flashlight represents the sun and the globe, of course, is the earth (put a star or some sort of marker to show where you are on the earth). Student with the globe moves (revolves) around the sun, while also rotating. We discuss how the days are made when the earth rotates one time, because the sun shines on one side of the earth during the day, and is facing away from the sun during the night.

 

 

As the earth revolves around the sun, the tilt of the earth causes different parts of the earth to be facing the sun, creating seasons and longer or shorter days.

 

A great book to read to students to introduce the sun is The Sun: Our Nearest Star by Branley and Miller

photo credit: nevittlessonplan.blogspot.com