GRADE: ESAM: K-2

CONTENT STANDARD: Earth and Space Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Space Science

CONCEPT: The earth is our home planet.

1.01 define planet.
1.02 identify the planet that students live on by giving the name.
1.03 discuss characteristics of earth.
1.04 discuss the effects of the sun on the earth.
1.05 discuss the effects of no sun on the earth.

I. Planet defined
II. Name of the planet we live on
III. Characteristic
IV. Characteristics of the earth without the sun
V. Characteristics of the earth with the sun

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE: Unifying Concepts of Science

TN GOAL:

To enable students to acquire scientific knowledge by applying concepts, theories, principles and laws from life/environmental, physical, and earth/space science.

2.1 SCALE AND MODEL - The development of models provides a conceptual bridge between the concrete and the abstract, while the use of scales allows for a comparison of differences in magnitude between the model and the desired form.

The learner will understand that:
2.1a A model is a representation used to simplify complex phenomena.

BENCHMARK A model is a representation of a real item or concept. Toys serve as models assisting with the understanding of complex ideas.

2.1b Different models can be used to represent the same thing. The kind of model and its complexity depends on its purpose.

BENCHMARK Various models may be constructed to represent a given item or concept.

2.1c Models are often used to study processes that happen too slowly, too quickly, or on too small or too large a scale to observe directly.

BENCHMARK Models can be used to demonstrate time progression or visual enhancements

2.1d The scale chosen for a model determines its effectiveness.

BENCHMARK The model's effectiveness is dependent on choice of materials, size, weight, age and speed

TIME REQUIRED:

30 minutes

MATERIALS:

Globe, map, Filmstrip: "Our Earth", Morriston, N. J., Silver Burdett Co., 1904.

Today we are going to learn about our planet earth. How many of you know the name of the planet on which you live? (response) Why do we need to know about our planet? response)

First of all boys and girls we need to decide what a planet is. A planet is any body that is not considered a star or is not put in space by man which revolves around the sun in the solar system. Therefore, the body that we live on is a planet and we call that planet earth. (Place a globe at the front of the room where everyone can see where the United States is located on the globe. Point out the state where the children live. Now spin the globe and have the children find the United States when the globe stops spinning. Help the students to understand that a model is a representation or simulation of something and explain that a globe is a model of the earth.) When we are on the earth, we cannot get away from it's surface to see the earth's true shape. If we could go way out in space we would get a better idea of what the earth really looks like. Our globe serves as a model of earth.

(The students will make a small model of the earth as they work individually or in small groups.)

Now that we have made our own model of earth, let's see if we can answer these questions:

1. What are some objects that are shaped like the earth? (ball, globe)

2. What is a globe? (A model of the earth)

3. What parts of the earth can we see from space? (Land, water, clouds)

What have we discussed today? (response) Can you give one characteristic of the earth? (Round ball, water, land, clouds) Have the children draw and color a picture of the earth as it appears from a distance in space. Encourage them to include land, water and clouds in the pictures.)

This classroom connector addresses Instructional Objectives 1.04 and 1.05.

MATERIALS:

Drawing paper, pencil, and crayons

Raise your hand if you remember the characteristics of the earth. (response) Let's name them. (response) Today, we will learn the effect of the sun on the earth.

The sun causes all the weather on our earth. It affects everything, plants and animals, on the earth. What would happen if the sun dropped from the sky and we had no sun? (response) Possible answers are: (list on board)

1. No sunlight
2. No moonlight
3. Everything would be dark
4. Everything would be cold
5. All water would change to ice
6. All green plants would die
7. Animals would have no food

But the sun will never drop from the sky. The sun always shines, even when it is covered by a cloud. Because the sun does always shine, we have the following: (list on the board)

1. Warm, sunny days
2. Moonlight at night
3. Clouds and rain
4. Trees and grass
5. Food from green plants
6. Many kinds of animals
7. Life on earth

We have learned how the sun affects life on our planet. I'll make a statement and you tell your neighbor if it is true with the sun or without the sun.

1. Everything would be dark. (Without the sun)
2. There would be life on earth. (With the sun)

(Each child will fold a drawing paper in half. On one side draw a picture of the earth with no sun and on the other side draw a picture of the earth with sun.)

This is the time this file has been accessed since 03/01/2004.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

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