From Using the Digital STARLAB to Address National Science Edcuation Standards article by Gary D. Kratzer, STARLAB e-News, Vol. 5, Winter 2008

Primary Lesson 1: Night and Day

Lesson design contains:

  • NSES connections
  • Background information for the instructor that is tied to NSES.
  • Pre-visit Activities

Background for instructor:

In this lesson, students are presented with the observational evidence as it appears from the surface of the Earth and they are asked to present their own ideas about what causes day and night. They visually see the Sun rise, move across the sky and set. With the help of the Digital STARLAB projector, they are transported out into space to see an expanded view of the Earth/Sun system. From this perspective, they can see the rotating Earth and how the Sun only lights one half of the planet a time.

NSES Connections:

P1. The Sun, Moon and stars all have properties, locations and movements that can be observed and described.

Examples of questions or activities from the script that demonstrates how this standard is addressed:

  • “Take a look at the sky around you. Right now, is it showing you daytime or night? How do you know?
  • “Everyone point to the Sun in the sky.”
  • “What happened to the Sun?”
  • “Here we are back in the daytime. The Sun is just starting to rise and the sky is bright. Take a look at where the Sun is rising in the sky. Is it in the same place as before?”
  • “Let’s speed up time and watch the Sun.” 

P2. The Sun provides the light and heat necessary to maintain the temperatures of Earth.

A question from the script that demonstrates how this standard is addressed:

  • “The Sun is very special for us here on Earth. What do we get from the Sun?”

P3. Objects in the sky have patterns of movement. The Sun appears to move across the sky in the same way every day, but its path changes slowly over the seasons.

Examples of questions from the script that demonstrate how this standard is addressed:

  • “Look at the sky now. Is it daytime or night? How do you know?”
  • “How will you know when it is daytime again?”

P4. Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion. Those motions explain day and night.

Examples of questions from the script that demonstrate how this standard is addressed:

  • “We just followed the Sun for one complete day. A full day takes 24 hours and includes both the daytime and the nighttime.”
  • “The reason that the Sun appears to move across the sky is because our Earth is spinning, just like a top. Since we’re riding on the Earth, we see the stars and Sun move but it’s really we who are moving!”
  • “Based on what we saw today, can anyone explain why we have day and night on Earth?”

P5. Many individuals have contributed to the traditions of science. Science has been practiced by different individuals in different cultures.

Examples from the script that demonstrate how this standard is addressed:

  • “As you watch the Sun, it looks like the Sun is moving across the sky. This is what people used to believe. They thought the Earth was in the center and the Sun, stars and Moon all went around us.”
  • “Back in 1543, a famous scientist named Nicholas Copernicus came up with the idea that the Earth moved, but many people did not believe it because they did not feel the Earth move. Today, we know that we can’t feel the Earth spinning because it’s so big.”

P6. Scientists formulate and test their explanations of nature using observation, experiments, and theoretical and mathematical models.

Examples of questions or activities from the script that demonstrate how this standard is addressed:

  • “If we continue to speed up time, can anyone guess what direction the Sun will set in? Everyone point which way you think the Sun will set.”
  • “Everyone point in the direction of the Sun. Now watch what happens when we move forward in time.”
  • “Based on the way the Earth is lit, point to where you think the Sun is in space. Let’s see if you are correct.”
  • “Okay, now let’s move a little farther out into space.”

P7. It is part of scientific inquiry to evaluate the results of scientific investigations, experiments, observations, models and explanations proposed by scientist.

Examples of questions and activities from the script that demonstrate how this standard is addressed:

  • “If we didn’t have the Sun, our Earth would be a very cold dark place! Now let’s speed up time a little and see what happens.”
  • “If we speed up time again, what do you think will happen?”
  • “Here we are, about 11,000 kilometers out in space looking back at the Earth. Does the Earth look the same on both sides?”
  • “Can anyone tell what is happening to the Earth now?”
  • “Here you can see where the Sun is. Were you pointing in the right direction? Based on what we saw today, can anyone explain why we have day and night on Earth?”

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