Alice OConnor 42018617

Lesson 3 Why do we have seasons? Unit of work: Out of this world! Exploring the science of Space. Stage 2: Year 4 Term: N/A Week: N/A Key Scientific Knowledge: Earths axis is not straight up and down but rather, it is tilted on a 25.3 degree angle. A planets set path is called an orbit and this goes around the sun. The Earth orbits around the sun once every year. We have countries in the Southern and Northern hemisphere. Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. When the Southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, we get Summer and when the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, we have Winter (Thomas & Sydenham, 2009). Resources: - SMART notebook document and SMART technology - Youtube clip: Earths tilt and seasons (Freese, 2010). - Ball - Computers and iPads - Whiteboard and pen for brainstorm

Outcomes: NSW Science Syllabus: - ES S2.6 - DM S2.8, UTS2.9 - VA1, VA4, VA5 NSW Science Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum: - ST2-9ES - ST2-4WS - ST2-1VA KLA integration: NSW Mathematics Syllabus: - DS 2.1 - MS 2.5

NSW Mathematics for the Australian Curriculum: - MA2-13MG - MA2-18SP Lesson description: - 10 min: Open up SMART notebook document Seasons to use as a guide for discussion throughout lesson. Starting on slide 1, encourage children to provide ideas as to why and how we get seasonal changes. Encourage students to describe the change between the 4 seasons. - 10 min: Watch Youtube clip on slide 2 by clicking on the link. After video, have a discussion to clarify understandings. Encourage students to ask questions and share ideas. Highlight key points such as the Earths orbit around the sun; the Earths axis is on a slight tilt; The North Point and the South Point of the Earth (Northern and Southern Hemisphere); Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere; if it is Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Summer in the Southern Hemisphere; how long does it take for the Earth to orbit around the Sun? - 10 min: As a whole class, make a human model to better understand the process of the 4 seasons on Earth. Place a ball in the middle to represent the Sun. Select 4 students to sit in 4 points around the Sun (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter- give student signs to hold up). The rest of the students can stand in a circle on the outside of these seasons, representing Earth. If they slowly move in a circle on a slight angle, whilst spinning slowly as they do so, they can get a visual understanding of the Earth moving around the Sun. They will go around in the circle while spinning and come across the different seasons as they do so. Point out key focus points as the students do so. As the slowly rotate and revolve around the Sun, they will pass through the different seasons. Finish up with questions such as how long does it take the Earth to do a full rotation around the Sun? Does to Earth stay on the same tilted angle the entire time? Use the last 3 slides to give a

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visual representation in drawing the comparison between why we get day and night and seasons. - 20 min: To draw together both concepts of day and night and seasons, allow students to work in pairs, using the computers and iPads to compare time, date and seasons between Australia and another country. Have a few maps of the world on display to assist students in selecting another country. Highlight the Southern and Northern Hemispheres on these maps. Have students record their results in some form of data representation i.e. table (columns: Country, season, date, current time). - In the last 5 minutes of the lesson, allow for children to share their findings with each other. Simplification: - Provide pairs with a Country to compare with Australia if they cannot think of one. - offer search term suggestions to students who may be struggling i.e. Google search current time in Japan or what season is it in China? Extension: - Students to compare Australia with 2 or more other Countries.

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References Freese, B. (2010). Earth's Tilt and the Seasons - for Planetarium Show [video file]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDgUmTq4a2Q&feature=youtu.be NSW Board of Studies. (2012). Mathematics K-10. Retrieved from: http://syllabus.bos.nsw.edu.au/mathematics/mathematics-k10/content/1134/?active=640 Thomas, R., & Sydenham, S. (2009). Night and day. Retrieved from http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/daynight.htm