Our Star the Sun Grades 3-5

                                                                                         

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

•Know that our sun is one of billions of stars in the universe

•Describe ways the sun is important for life on Earth

•Know the two gases that make up the majority of the sun

•Explain that radiant energy from the Sun can heat objects

                                                                                         

Lesson Essential Questions

• What are the properties of our Sun?

• Why is the Sun important to life on Earth?

• What happens to objects that are exposed to the sun?

                                                                                         

Key Vocabulary

• Astronomy

• Energy • Filament• Heat• Light• Radiant Energy• Radiation• Solar System• Star

• Telescope• Ultraviolet• Universe

The universe is home to many galaxies. Our solar system is part of

the Milky Way galaxy.

                                                                                         

The Sunny Side of School

As you take a discovery trip throughout your school, try to find the sunniest spots and surfaces.

Ask yourself: •Do some surfaces feel warmer than others?•Can you tell how long the sun has been shining on a surface?•What effects does the sun have on objects on Earth.

                                                                                         

The Sun

Link to The Sun

                                                                                         

How does life on Earth depend on the sun?

Why does the sun appear to move?

                                                                                         

Get Your Hands Dirty!

How exactly do sunscreens work? Why are some stronger than others?

Complete the Hands-On Activity: Sun Protection to find out!

                                                                                         

Explore: Guided Inquiry

                                                                                         

The Sun: Too Hot to Handle!

Link to A Huge Furnace

                                                                                         

While you view the following video, think about these questions:

• How does the location of Earth allow it to support life?

• When is the sun visible? • Why do all other stars appear as only small

points of light?

                                                                                         

Our Solar System

Link to Our Solar System

                                                                                         

Review: The Greenhouse Effect

Take a few minutes and think about the Greenhouse Effect.

•What is the Greenhouse Effect?•How does the Greenhouse Effect impact people today? •Can you name some examples and applications of the Greenhouse Effect?

                                                                                         

3:03:0002:52:5992:52:5882:52:5772:52:5662:52:5553:03:0002:52:5442:52:5332:52:5222:52:5112:52:5002:42:4992:42:4882:42:4772:42:4662:42:4552:42:4442:42:4332:42:4222:42:4112:42:4002:32:3992:32:3882:32:3772:32:3662:32:3552:32:3442:32:3332:32:3222:32:3112:32:3002:22:2992:22:2882:22:2772:22:2662:22:2552:22:2442:22:2332:22:2222:22:2112:22:2002:12:1992:12:1882:12:1772:12:1662:12:1552:12:1442:12:1332:12:1222:12:1112:12:1002:02:0992:02:0882:02:0772:02:0662:02:0552:02:0442:02:0332:02:0222:02:0112:02:0001:51:5991:51:5881:51:5771:51:5661:51:5551:51:5441:51:5331:51:5221:51:5111:51:5001:41:4991:41:4881:41:4771:41:4661:41:4551:41:4441:41:4331:41:4221:41:4111:41:4001:31:3991:31:3881:31:3771:31:3661:31:3551:31:3441:31:3331:31:3221:31:3111:31:3001:21:2991:21:2881:21:2771:21:2661:21:2551:21:2441:21:2331:21:2221:21:2111:21:2001:11:1991:11:1881:11:1771:11:1661:11:1551:11:1441:11:1331:11:1221:11:1111:11:1001:01:0991:01:0881:01:0771:01:0661:01:0551:01:0441:01:0331:01:0221:01:0111:01:000:59:59:58:58:57:57:56:56:55:55:54:54:53:53:52:52:51:51:50:50:49:49:48:48:47:47:46:46:45:45:44:44:43:43:42:42:41:41:40:40:39:39:38:38:37:37:36:36:35:35:34:34:33:33:32:32:31:31:30:30:29:29:28:28:27:27:26:26:25:25:24:24:23:23:22:22:21:21:20:20:19:19:18:18:17:17:16:16:15:15:14:14:13:13:12:12:11:11:10:10:09:09:08:08:07:07:06:06:05:05:04:04:03:03:02:02:01:01:00:00

Time for a Group Discussion!

                                                                                         

Work with a partner to create a labeled diagram of the sun.

The Sun and Us

Include:•Its size•Its composition•Its energy output

                                                                                         

Exploring the Stars

Link to the Exploration: Our Star the Sun

                                                                                         

Safely Viewing the SunAfter reading the passage A Sun-sational Journey, follow these easy steps to make your own pinhole projector and safely observe the sun.

1)Punch a small hole in a piece of thin cardboard.

2)Without looking directly at the sun, point the board at the sun.

3)Hold a thin piece of white paper in front of hole.

4)Voila! An image of the sun is projected onto the piece of paper.

5)Using your pinhole projector, observe the sun over the next several days and compile your results into a poster to share with the class.

                                                                                         

Why is the Sun important to life on Earth?

• The Sun is our closest star• The Sun provides us with heat and light• Without heat and light from the Sun, plants and

animals would not be able to survive on Earth

Check For UnderstandingOur Star the Sun

                                                                                         

Homework Ideas• Have students conduct research to extend their knowledge of

the sun. They should expand their knowledge by studying things that are not included in the lesson sub-concepts. Ideas include the sun’s core, the layers of the sun’s atmosphere, the future of the sun, solar flares, solar wind, and sunspots. Have students present their findings in a brief oral report to their classmates.

• Have students write a science fiction story based on the sun. Allow them to choose their own story idea, or assign ideas to students. Possible ideas include travel to the sun or a world without the sun. Challenge students to include facts about the sun in their stories, and then have

students share their stories with their classmates.