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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: A Day on Earth

For Students 3rd - 5th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on how the Earth's tilt on its axis, its rotation, and its orbit around the Sun give us a 24-hour day, a 365-day year, and our seasons.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: The Sun and the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The students will understand the relationship between the Earth and the sun and how this relationship affects observable phenomena on Earth, such as the seasons. The activity will help students learn about these concepts and will...
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Lesson Plan
The Wonder of Science

The Wonder of Science: Ms Ess1 1: Earth Sun Moon System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Develop and use a model of the earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: A Song for All Seasons

For Students 9th - 10th
After listening to excerpts from four of the violin concertos from "The Four Seasons" by Italian composer and violinist, Antonio Vivaldi, decide which excerpt was meant to go with which season, and also decide where the earth would be in...
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Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

Illustrative Mathematics: G Mg Tilt of Earth's Axis and the Four Seasons

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
This task gives learners a chance to explore the effects of the Earth's tilt and rotation using a simple geometric model of Earth-Sun interaction that shows why the seasons occur. Aligns with G-MG.A.1.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Calculating the Declination of the Sun for Elementary Students

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In the school courtyard, young scholars will measure the apparent path of the sun across the sky using a toilet plunger. Students will then generate questions as to why the sun appears to move, and what is really happening in the...
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Interactive
PBS

Pbs: Why Do We Have Seasons?

For Students 5th - 8th
A student-directed tutorial showing all aspects of seasons, including Earth's tilt position in relation to the sun, photos of typical weather during that season, and some informational text to support the visuals.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Modeling Earth's Seasons by Rotation and Revolution

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, learners will discuss, define, and demonstrate the Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun in a counterclockwise position. They will be able to predict seasons based on the amount of light that hits the Earth.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Earth Science: Earth's Motion in Space

For Students 5th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the motion of the Earth with its day and night cycle, the seasons, the Earth's orbit around the Sun, and its year-long cycle.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Seasons

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this activity, students create a small model of the Earth using a styrofoam ball and a skewer. They then explore the relationship between the Earth and the Sun (a flashlight) to understand why it is hottest at the Equator, and why we...
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Activity
Math Is Fun

Math Is Fun: The Seasons

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the four seasons, when they occur in the northern and southern hemispheres, and why the seasons change as the Earth rotates around the Sun.
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Handout
University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin: Reasons for the Seasons

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief explanation of the Earth's rotation around the Sun and how it relates to the amount of sunlight the Earth receives, and to the seasons. Includes two questions for students to respond to.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Earth and Space the Seasons

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explores the relationship between the sun and earth and how the seasons happen. Vocabulary of the equinox, solstice, etc. is included.
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Activity
Ducksters

Ducksters: Kids Science Projects and Experiments: Seasons Angle of the Sun

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn by experimenting with science. Project showing how the angle of the sun affects our temperature.
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Graphic
University of Utah

University of Utah: Aspire: Seasons Exercise

For Students 9th - 10th
In this activity, use seasons to determine your location. Click on the different dates to view the earth's shadow at different times of the year from the sun's position.
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Website
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Teachers' Lab: A Private Universe

For Teachers 4th - 6th
This section is dedicated to educators to become expert instructors on topics like: distance between Earth, the Sun, and the moon, the phases of the moon, and reason for the seasons. Site includes information about how to address...
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Interactive
Harvard University

Harvard Smithsonian: Everyday Classroom Tools

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
The focus of this series of lessons is to engage students in an exploration of the world around them. The emphasis is on inquiry as students learn about the earth, sun, light, shapes and more.
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Lesson Plan
BioEd Online

Bio Ed Online: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The following lessons help students from grades 6-8 understand sleep and circadian rhythms. Lesson topics iinclude: day and night, seasons, sundails, clocks, sleep and sleep patterns and sleeping in space.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Harvard University: The Earths Orbit

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students perform many inquiry activities related to Earth's orbit. Included are recording daily temperatures, observing the sun's path over several weeks, tracking sunrise and sunset times, and angle of sunlight. Diagrams make lessons...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Harvard University: The Earths Orbit

For Students 3rd - 8th
Students perform many inquiry activities related to Earth's orbit. Included are recording daily temperatures, observing the sun's path over several weeks, tracking sunrise and sunset times, and angle of sunlight. Diagrams make lessons...
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Website
NOAA

Noaa: Paleoclimatology Program: Astronomical Theory of Climate Change

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn how the Earth's not-so-circular orbit around the sun has affected our climate over thousands of years, and continues to affect our climate now.
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Unit Plan
Ministerio de Educación (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion: Atronomia Esferica Modulo I Unidad 1

For Students 9th - 10th
Recognize the major constellations and learn about the sky during the different seasons of the year. You will also be able to measure the height of the mountains of the moon.
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Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Ray Bradbury

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore the world of Ray Bradbury when you visit this educational resource. Each work is hyperlinked to study guide questions.
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Website
Cornell University

Cornell University: Astronomy: Eclipses

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Astronomy Department of Cornell University provides brief introduction to both solar and lunar eclipses. Links are provided for pictures and charts of the eclipses, and this is a good site to check out on the subject.