ESS.4.1.1: Use models to explain the cause of day and night based on the…
Use models to explain the cause of day and night based on the rotation of the Earth on its axis.
The North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Science (2023) outcome ESS.4.1.1 (Earth’s Place in the Universe) for Grade 4 says: “Use models to explain the cause of day and night based on the rotation of the Earth on its axis.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Science (2023).
Sun, Earth and Moon Grades 4–5
Why it's breakfast time in Calgary and bedtime in Singapore, why your shadow swings round the stick, why the Moon changes shape and why some places barely have seasons. Students build models with balls and lamps, track real shadows and read real sky data from cities around the world.
- Why do we have day and night? 45–60 min
Teams spin a ball in the beam of a flashlight and follow a sticker 'person' through sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight. They use the model to explain why it's breakfast time in Calgary while it's bedtime in Singapore.
Printable practice for ESS.4.1.1
These pages practise a closely related idea; the match to ESS.4.1.1 is partial.
- Sun, Earth and Moon workbook included with the unit
2 English-support pages, 2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
- Stars and the Night Sky workbook included with the unit
2 English-support pages, 2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
- The Reason for the Seasons: Tilt, Daylight and the Solstice workbook included with the unit
2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.
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Compared with NGSS: 5-ESS1-2 (partial).
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