Children's Books
Sunshine. By Gail Saunders-Smith. Illus. by author. (1998). 24 p. Capstone Press Publishing Company. (978-1560657804). Gr. K-2.
This book describes the effects on sunlight on the earth where we live. Students are exposed to how the sun affects temperature, seasons, winds, and clouds.
This book describes the effects on sunlight on the earth where we live. Students are exposed to how the sun affects temperature, seasons, winds, and clouds.
Day Light, Night Light. By Franklyn M. Branley. Illus. by Stacey Schuett. (1998). 32 p. Harper Collins Publishing Company. (978-0064451710). Gr. K-2.
Students learn about where light comes from in reference to the sun, the moon, and the stars. Many illustrations and fun facts about the sun and light will be sure to grasp students' attention!
Students learn about where light comes from in reference to the sun, the moon, and the stars. Many illustrations and fun facts about the sun and light will be sure to grasp students' attention!
The Sun: Our Nearest Star. By Franklyn M. Branley. Illus. by Edward Miller. (2002). 32 p. Harper Collins Publishing Company. (978-0064452026). Gr. K-2.
Students will learn about how the sun brings heat, warmth, and energy to the earth in the book. Questions such as, "What is the sun made of?" and "How far away is the sun?" will also be answered.
Students will learn about how the sun brings heat, warmth, and energy to the earth in the book. Questions such as, "What is the sun made of?" and "How far away is the sun?" will also be answered.
Sun Up, Sun Down: The Story of Day and Night. By Jacqui Bailey. Illus. by Matthew Lilly. (2006). 32 p. Picture Window Books Publishing Company. (978-1404811287). Gr. 1-4.
In this book, students are exposed to how the sun moves and changes throughout the day in a family's backyard. Students are exposed to the sun, moon, and stars and concepts such as the rising and setting of the sun each day.
In this book, students are exposed to how the sun moves and changes throughout the day in a family's backyard. Students are exposed to the sun, moon, and stars and concepts such as the rising and setting of the sun each day.
Web Site for Kids
Earth, Sun, and Moon - Interactive Experiment/Model
Through this site, students are able to view the rotations and relationships of the earth and moon to the sun. They are able to manipulate hours, days, or months to find out how long it takes the earth to rotate just once and rotate around the sun.
Through this site, students are able to view the rotations and relationships of the earth and moon to the sun. They are able to manipulate hours, days, or months to find out how long it takes the earth to rotate just once and rotate around the sun.
Lights and Shadows - Interactive Game/Experiment
Students experiment with shadows and light both those created from artificial light and light from the sun outside. The experiment allows students to manipulate the sun outside to cast objects on shadows and see how they vary throughout the day.
Students experiment with shadows and light both those created from artificial light and light from the sun outside. The experiment allows students to manipulate the sun outside to cast objects on shadows and see how they vary throughout the day.
A Day on Earth - Study Jams Video
This short video introduces students to how the sun provides light to the earth during the daytime versus the nighttime. Higher ability vocabulary such as rotation and orbit are discussed.
This short video introduces students to how the sun provides light to the earth during the daytime versus the nighttime. Higher ability vocabulary such as rotation and orbit are discussed.
Teacher Resources - Lessons/Activities
Energy from the Sun - Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students learn how the sun affects how things are heated here on earth. Through an experiment, students track and compare the temperatures of water, soil, and air that are located outside in a shady location, outside in a sunny location, and inside the classroom in a shady location.
In this lesson, students learn how the sun affects how things are heated here on earth. Through an experiment, students track and compare the temperatures of water, soil, and air that are located outside in a shady location, outside in a sunny location, and inside the classroom in a shady location.
Positions of the Sun - Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students observe the movement of the sun across the sky from the morning to the afternoon. The lesson also includes an interactive classroom demonstration of how the earth rotates, which creates the day and the night. Students will understand that the sun does not "disappear" at night, but the earth actually rotates away from the sun.
In this lesson, students observe the movement of the sun across the sky from the morning to the afternoon. The lesson also includes an interactive classroom demonstration of how the earth rotates, which creates the day and the night. Students will understand that the sun does not "disappear" at night, but the earth actually rotates away from the sun.
Universe Cycle - Lesson Plans
This link provides teachers with three lesson plans, which can be used to teach revolution and rotation, how the sun makes day and night, and how the sun makes the seasons.
This link provides teachers with three lesson plans, which can be used to teach revolution and rotation, how the sun makes day and night, and how the sun makes the seasons.
Sun Jobs - Chart
As a class, students can be guided to create a chart similar to the one on this link that displays "sun jobs." This type of chart will help students to understand that the sun is the source of heat and energy on earth.
As a class, students can be guided to create a chart similar to the one on this link that displays "sun jobs." This type of chart will help students to understand that the sun is the source of heat and energy on earth.
The Warmth of the Sun - Lesson Plan
This lesson will help students to observe that the sun gives us warmth on earth by observing the effects of the sun on water placed in varying locations.
This lesson will help students to observe that the sun gives us warmth on earth by observing the effects of the sun on water placed in varying locations.
Teacher Resources - Assessment
Sun Placement - Worksheet
This worksheet can be used to assess students' knowledge of sun placement throughout the day. By drawing an X on the middle of each picture and utilizing the compass rose, students are to determine whether it is morning, noon, or afternoon based on the sun's placement.
This worksheet can be used to assess students' knowledge of sun placement throughout the day. By drawing an X on the middle of each picture and utilizing the compass rose, students are to determine whether it is morning, noon, or afternoon based on the sun's placement.
Shade the Sun - Worksheet
As the sun rotates around the earth, students are to shade the part of the sun that are in darkness.
As the sun rotates around the earth, students are to shade the part of the sun that are in darkness.
Light and Shadows - Worksheet
Students shade in the shadow of a tree at varying points of the day based on the sun's location.
Students shade in the shadow of a tree at varying points of the day based on the sun's location.