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Day/Night

Day/Night

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to identify characteristics of the seasons of the year and day and night.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that the natural world includes the air around us and objects in the sky.

Science Background

What Causes Day and Night? Universe Today (website) - Information about the causes and variations of the day and night cycle.

What Causes Day and Night?
by John Carl, Universe Today, www.universetoday.com

Why is Earth Rotating? NASA (website) - Earth’s 24-hour rotation is one trait that makes our planet so friendly to life. Learn more about Earth’s rotation and other topics by listening to the audio clips.

Why is Earth Rotating?
NASA Space Place, spaceplace.nasa.gov

Signature Lesson

What Makes Day and Night? Eye on the Sky (website) - A kinesthetic modeling of day and night enables students to identify characteristics of the day/night cycle and experience Earth’s spin.

What Makes Day and Night?
Eye on the Sky, www.eyeonthesky.org

Supporting Lessons

Sunrise, Sunset, Apparent Motion of the Sun: NASA, StarChild (website) - Students learn the Sun is the source of Earth’s light and heat energy, observe and describe changes in the Sun's altitude and position, and understand that day and night are determined by our view of the Sun.

Sunrise, Sunset, Apparent Motion of the Sun
NASA, StarChild, starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

As the Earth Turns: Beacon Learning Center (website) - Experience an interactive game that explains what causes day and night.

As the Earth Turns
Beacon Learning Center, www.beaconlearningcenter.com

Assessment Ideas

Day and Night: Eye on the Sky (PDF) - Assess students’ understanding day/night cycles by having them color the Sun and Earth to indicate which parts of Earth are experiencing daytime and nighttime, respectively.

Eye on the Sky
Day and Night, www.eyeonthesky.org

Literature Connections

What Makes Day and Night? Branley, Franley (ISBN: 0064450503)

Day and Night. Nelson, Robin (ISBN: 0761356797)

Day and Night. Hall, Margaret (ISBN: 0736896155)

Related Science TEKS

(1.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to recognize and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(1.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to recognize the importance of safe practices to keep self and others safe and healthy.

(1.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

(1.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move.

(1.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data and make observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, and non-standard measurement tools.

(1.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data and observations using pictures, numbers, and words.

(1.2E) Communicate Observations
The student is expected to communicate observations with others about simple descriptive investigations.

(1.3A) Identify, Explain and Propose a Solution to a Problem
The student is expected to identify and explain a problem such as finding a home for a classroom pet and propose a solution in his/her own words.

(1.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

(1.3C) Explore Scientists
The student is expected to describe what scientists do.

(1.4A) Tools for Collecting Information
The student is expected to collect information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, primary balances, cups, bowls, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices, including clocks and timers; non-standard measuring items such as paper clips and clothespins; weather instruments such as demonstration thermometers and wind socks; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(1.4B) Non-Standard Measurement Units
The student is expected to measure organisms and objects and parts of organisms and objects, using non-standard units.

Related Math TEKS

1.9A    The student is expected to collect and sort data.

1.9B     The student is expected to use organized data to construct real object graphs, picture graphs, and bar-type graphs.

1.11C   The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, or acting it out in order to solve a problem.

1.11D  The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

1.12A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

1.13A  The student is expected to justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Universe Cycle, Earth: Math/Science Nucleus (website) - Compare night and day while exploring the movement of Earth.

Universe Cycle, Earth
Math/Science Nucleus, msnucleus.org

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