Physics, space physics: our Sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy…
Physics, space physics: our Sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy, other galaxies; the light year as a unit of astronomical distance. (No galaxies.)
The National curriculum in England: science programmes of study, Key Stages 1–3 outcome for Years 7–9 says: “Physics, space physics: our Sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy, other galaxies; the light year as a unit of astronomical distance. (No galaxies.)” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson.
Stars and the Night Sky Grades 3–6 · partly supports this outcome
Where the stars go in the daytime, why they wheel across the sky all night and why Orion is a winter sight in Canada but a summer one in Australia. Students sort real star data, spin and orbit as human models and read a printed sky chart. No materials needed: just the printed sheets, in either hemisphere.
- Why do stars come out at night? 45–60 min
Teams sort ten real star cards by distance and then by how bright each star looks, and pace out the distances as a human line. They find that the nearest star after the Sun is too faint to see, explain why the Sun outshines every other star and where the stars go in the daytime.
More England Years 7–9 science outcomes we teach
Every England Years 7–9 science curriculum outcome we teach
Every unit matched to England's curriculum · All places and curricula
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