Shine Bright with the Sun!
Lesson Description
Video Resource
Key Concepts
- The Sun is a star.
- The Sun provides energy to Earth.
- The Sun is very far away from Earth.
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to define the Sun as a star.
- Students will be able to explain that the Sun uses hydrogen as fuel.
- Students will be able to identify the Sun as the main source of energy for Earth.
Educator Instructions
- Introduction (5 mins)
Begin by asking students what they already know about the Sun. Show the video 'The Sun for Kids' from Homeschool Pop (0:00-0:22). Briefly introduce the topics that will be covered in the lesson. - The Sun is a Star (10 mins)
Watch the video from 0:22-1:39. Discuss what makes the Sun a star. Explain how the Sun is made of hydrogen, which it uses for fuel. Ask students to name other stars they know (even if they can only name fictional stars). - Distance and Energy (10 mins)
Watch the video from 1:39-4:24. Discuss how far away the Sun is from Earth. Talk about the different kinds of energy that come from the Sun and how important the sun's energy is to living things. Discuss how plants use the sun to grow. Ask students what kinds of things they do that are powered by the sun's energy, even indirectly. (e.g., eating plants, playing outside, etc.) - Review and Wrap-up (5 mins)
Go through the final review in the video (4:24-end). Recap the main points of the lesson. Answer any remaining questions students may have.
Interactive Exercises
- Sun Model
Have students create a simple model of the Sun and Earth, showing the distance between them. Use a large ball (like a basketball) for the Sun and a small ball (like a marble) for the Earth. Discuss how far apart they need to be to represent the actual distance. This visually reinforces the concept of scale. - Sunlight Experiment
Place one plant in sunlight and another in a dark space. Students will document how the plant in the sunlight thrives, while the plant left in the dark wilts.
Discussion Questions
- Why is the Sun important for life on Earth?
- What would happen if the Sun disappeared?
Skills Developed
- Observation
- Critical thinking
- Information recall
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1:
What is the Sun?
Correct Answer: A star
Question 2:
What does the Sun use for fuel?
Correct Answer: Hydrogen
Question 3:
Does the sun have gravity?
Correct Answer: Yes
Question 4:
The Sun is ________ from Earth.
Correct Answer: Very far away
Question 5:
What does the Sun give to Earth?
Correct Answer: Energy
Question 6:
What does the Sun help plants to do?
Correct Answer: Grow
Question 7:
Is the sun hot or cold?
Correct Answer: Hot
Question 8:
What do the Sun's rays give?
Correct Answer: Sunlight
Question 9:
The sun is at the center of what?
Correct Answer: Our solar system
Question 10:
Where does the Sun get its power?
Correct Answer: From gas
Fill in the Blank Questions
Question 1:
The Sun is a big, bright ________.
Correct Answer: star
Question 2:
The Sun uses ________ as fuel.
Correct Answer: hydrogen
Question 3:
The Sun is very ________ away from Earth.
Correct Answer: far
Question 4:
The Sun gives ________ to Earth.
Correct Answer: energy
Question 5:
Plants need sunlight to ________.
Correct Answer: grow
Question 6:
The sun has a lot of ________.
Correct Answer: gravity
Question 7:
The sun is very ________.
Correct Answer: hot
Question 8:
We get ________ from the sun.
Correct Answer: sunlight
Question 9:
The sun is at the center of our ________.
Correct Answer: solar system
Question 10:
Without the sun, the Earth would be very ________.
Correct Answer: cold
Educational Standards
Teaching Materials
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