SunSun

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.spout.

Down came the rain and washed the Down came the rain and washed the spider out.spider out.

Out came the sun and dried up all the Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, rain,

And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.spout again.

You think this song is silly, that You think this song is silly, that you know what it’s about.you know what it’s about.

But it’s more than spiders, washed But it’s more than spiders, washed out of a spout.out of a spout.

It mentions that the sun shines, It mentions that the sun shines, providing light and heat,providing light and heat,

And that water goes away when And that water goes away when the heat and water meet!the heat and water meet!

You get evaporation when water’s You get evaporation when water’s heated up.heated up.

Water turns to gas when it’s busy Water turns to gas when it’s busy drying up.drying up.

Heat’s a major factor in changing Heat’s a major factor in changing states of stuff, states of stuff,

‘‘Cause it also makes things melt when Cause it also makes things melt when they’re heated up enough!they’re heated up enough!

• What happens to water in the sun?What happens to water in the sun?

• How does it change?How does it change?

• What part of the water cycle does What part of the water cycle does this this

represent?represent?• When do you think this takes place in When do you think this takes place in

the original song?the original song?

A Closer Look at Space: Sun and Stars A Closer Look at Space: Sun and Stars (14 min)(14 min)

- Stop when it gets to constellations- Stop when it gets to constellations

• What surprises you the most about What surprises you the most about the surface of the sun?the surface of the sun?

• Compare the size of the Sun with the Compare the size of the Sun with the size of the Earth.size of the Earth.

• Why does the Sun look so small in Why does the Sun look so small in the sky?the sky?

• What is a sunspot?What is a sunspot?

• What is the Sun made of?What is the Sun made of?

• Why is the Sun so important to us?Why is the Sun so important to us?

• What forms of energy does the Sun What forms of energy does the Sun give off?give off?

• What is the Sun’s role in the water What is the Sun’s role in the water cycle? What does it do?cycle? What does it do?

• If the Sun is so much bigger than the If the Sun is so much bigger than the Earth or any other planet, why does Earth or any other planet, why does it look small in the sky?it look small in the sky?

• It is so far awayIt is so far away

• Why is the Sun important for us on Why is the Sun important for us on Earth?Earth?

• The Sun provides us the light and The Sun provides us the light and heat energy in order to survive.heat energy in order to survive.

• Why do we need light energy to survive?Why do we need light energy to survive?• The Sun is the primary source of energy in The Sun is the primary source of energy in

the food chain providing light for plants so the food chain providing light for plants so that they can make their own food and that they can make their own food and consumers in turn can eat them and consumers in turn can eat them and receive energy.receive energy.

• Why is the hear energy from the Sun so Why is the hear energy from the Sun so important?important?

• The Sun provides the energy to create and The Sun provides the energy to create and continue the water cycle. It heats the continue the water cycle. It heats the water that evaporates in the air, water that evaporates in the air, condensates, and then precipitates back condensates, and then precipitates back on Earth.on Earth.

YOUR TOP 10 SUN FACTSYOUR TOP 10 SUN FACTS• 1. The sun is a star. This makes it 1. The sun is a star. This makes it

extremely important for life on Earth. The extremely important for life on Earth. The sun provides us with energy, which brings sun provides us with energy, which brings life on our planet. It defines the seasons, life on our planet. It defines the seasons, the harvests, and even the sleep patterns the harvests, and even the sleep patterns of all living creatures on Earth.of all living creatures on Earth.

• 2. The sun is the closest star to our planet. 2. The sun is the closest star to our planet. Imagine two cars on the road during the Imagine two cars on the road during the night with their headlights on. One car is night with their headlights on. One car is closer to you and the other one is far closer to you and the other one is far away. Which headlights would seem away. Which headlights would seem brighter and bigger? That explains why we brighter and bigger? That explains why we see the sun so big and bright. It is simply see the sun so big and bright. It is simply the nearest star to Earth.the nearest star to Earth.

• 3. Remember! The Earth orbits around the 3. Remember! The Earth orbits around the sun.sun.

• 4. The sun is way bigger than the Earth. In 4. The sun is way bigger than the Earth. In fact its radius is 109 times bigger than the fact its radius is 109 times bigger than the radius of the Earth. For those of you who radius of the Earth. For those of you who are curious, the sun’s Radius is 696,000km are curious, the sun’s Radius is 696,000km and the Earth’s radius is 6, 376km.and the Earth’s radius is 6, 376km.

•5. DON’T TOUCH THE SUN! IT’S HOT! The 5. DON’T TOUCH THE SUN! IT’S HOT! The sun’s average surface temperature is 5700 sun’s average surface temperature is 5700 C. Compare that to the Earth’s average C. Compare that to the Earth’s average temperature, which is 20 C. temperature, which is 20 C.

• 6. The sun is 150 million km (93 million 6. The sun is 150 million km (93 million miles) away from the Earth.miles) away from the Earth.

• 7. How old is the sun? Can you imagine 4.5 7. How old is the sun? Can you imagine 4.5 billion years?billion years?

•8. We know that the Earth’s structure 8. We know that the Earth’s structure consists of different layers. The sun also consists of different layers. The sun also has layers but unlike the Earth, the sun is has layers but unlike the Earth, the sun is entirely gaseous; there is no solid surface.entirely gaseous; there is no solid surface.

• 9. The sun rotates on its axis 9. The sun rotates on its axis approximately once every 26 days. The approximately once every 26 days. The sun is made of gas, which is why its sun is made of gas, which is why its different parts rotate at different speeds. different parts rotate at different speeds. The fastest rotation is around the equator The fastest rotation is around the equator and the slowest rotation is at the sun’s and the slowest rotation is at the sun’s polar regions (more than 30 days).polar regions (more than 30 days).

• 10. The sun changes. No matter when or 10. The sun changes. No matter when or where we look at the sun, we will always where we look at the sun, we will always see something interesting. Scientists see something interesting. Scientists observe these changes by watching the observe these changes by watching the sunspots. They increase and decrease on a sunspots. They increase and decrease on a regular cycle of about 10.8 years.regular cycle of about 10.8 years.