Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

• Students will be able to explain the concepts of rotation and revolution of the Earth, and how these movements contribute to day and night, and the changing of seasons.
• Students will understand the differences between rotation (the Earth spinning on its axis) and revolution (the Earth's orbit around the Sun), and how these movements occur.
• Students will learn about the inclination of the Earth's axis and how it causes the changing of seasons.

Secondary Objectives:

• Students will develop observational skills by applying what they learn to explain real-world phenomena like the occurrence of day and night, and the changing of seasons.
• Students will improve their critical thinking skills by analyzing the effects of these movements on life on Earth.

Introduction (8 - 10 minutes)

• The teacher begins the class by reminding students of their previous lessons on the solar system, emphasizing the Earth's position in it and the Sun's role as the central star. This will help to provide the necessary background knowledge for the current lesson.

• The teacher then presents two problem situations to engage the students:

  1. "If you were to observe the sky at the same time every day for a week, would you see the same stars? Why or why not?"
  2. "Why do we have seasons? Shouldn't it be the same temperature all year round?"

• The teacher then contextualizes the importance of the subject by explaining how understanding the Earth's movements can explain natural phenomena like day and night, and the changing of seasons. This knowledge is crucial in various fields, such as agriculture and navigation.

• To grab the students' attention, the teacher shares two interesting facts related to the topic:

  1. "Did you know that the Earth is not a perfect sphere? It is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation."
  2. "The Earth's rotation is not constant. It's gradually slowing down due to the gravitational interactions with other celestial bodies. This means that in a few billion years, a day on Earth will be longer than it is now!"

• The teacher then introduces the topic of the day, stating, "Today, we're going to explore the fascinating movements of our home, the Earth. We will learn about its rotation, revolution, and the tilt of its axis, and how these movements give us day and night, and the changing of seasons."

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

Activity 1: Create a Model of Earth's Rotation (10 - 12 minutes)

• The teacher divides the class into groups of four. Each group is given a large Styrofoam ball, a marker, a flashlight, and a small sticker.

1. The teacher instructs the students to use the marker to draw a line across the center of the ball to represent the Earth's equator.

2. The students are then asked to attach the small sticker near the top of the ball, slightly off-center. This sticker represents the North Pole.

3. Then, the students are asked to turn on the flashlight and shine it directly at the ball. The light represents the Sun's rays.

4. The teacher explains that the ball's rotation on its axis causes day and night. To demonstrate this, the students are instructed to slowly rotate the ball while keeping the North Pole sticker stationary.

5. As they rotate the ball, the students observe how the light from the flashlight falls on different parts of the ball, causing areas to be illuminated (daytime) while others are in shadow (nighttime). The students discuss their observations and confirm that the ball's rotation does indeed cause day and night.

Activity 2: Simulating Earth's Revolution (10 - 12 minutes)

• The teacher then introduces the second activity, which demonstrates the Earth's revolution around the Sun. Each group is given a clear plastic cup, a small toy representing the Earth, and a larger toy representing the Sun.

1. The students are instructed to fill the cup halfway with water and then gently place the toy Earth in the cup's center.

2. The teacher explains that the toy Earth's orbit around the Sun is represented by the students slowly moving the cup in a circular motion around the larger toy.

3. As the students rotate the cup, they observe how the toy Earth moves in the water, simulating its orbit around the Sun.

4. The teacher also highlights that, like the Earth's axis, the toy Earth's axis is tilted. This tilt is demonstrated by tilting the toy Earth slightly in the cup.

5. The teacher then asks the students to observe the toy Earth's tilted axis as it orbits the Sun, explaining that this tilt causes the changing of seasons.

6. At the conclusion of the activity, the students are encouraged to discuss their observations, reinforcing the understanding of the Earth's revolution and the tilt of its axis.

• The teacher then gathers the class together to discuss the outcomes of the activities, reinforcing the concepts of rotation, revolution, and the tilt of the Earth's axis, and how they contribute to day and night, and the changing of seasons. The teacher also clarifies any misconceptions and answers any questions.

Feedback (7 - 10 minutes)

• The teacher begins this stage by facilitating a group discussion, where each group shares their observations and conclusions from the hands-on activities. The teacher ensures that each student gets a chance to participate and share their thoughts. (3 - 4 minutes)

• The teacher then asks the students to link their observations from the activities to the real-world phenomena of day and night, and the changing of seasons. This is to help the students understand the practical application of the theoretical knowledge they have learned. (2 - 3 minutes)

• The teacher then proposes that the students take a moment to reflect on what they have learned in this lesson. The teacher encourages the students to think about the most important concept they have learned and any questions they still have. This reflective process will help the students consolidate their understanding and identify areas they may need further clarification on. (1 - 2 minutes)

• To conclude the feedback session, the teacher asks a few students to share their reflections with the class. This will allow the teacher to assess the overall understanding of the class and address any common areas of confusion. (1 - 2 minutes)

• The teacher then provides a brief summary of the key concepts covered in the lesson, ensuring that the students understand the importance of the Earth's movements in shaping our daily life and the changing of seasons. The teacher also highlights the connection between the hands-on activities and the theoretical concepts, reinforcing the idea that understanding the movements of the Earth is not just an abstract concept but something that can be observed and experienced in our daily lives. (1 minute)

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

• The teacher begins the conclusion by summarizing the main points of the lesson. They reiterate that the Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night, and that it revolves around the Sun, causing the changing of seasons. The teacher also reminds the students about the Earth's tilted axis and its role in the changing of seasons. (1 - 2 minutes)

• The teacher then explains how the lesson connected theory, practice, and real-world applications. They remind the students that the hands-on activities helped to visualize the abstract concepts of rotation and revolution. The teacher also emphasizes how these movements of the Earth, which were demonstrated in the activities, are the fundamental reasons behind day and night, and the changing of seasons, which are real-world phenomena we experience every day. (1 - 2 minutes)

• As a follow-up to the lesson, the teacher suggests additional materials for the students to explore, such as documentaries or interactive websites about the Earth's movements. The teacher also encourages the students to keep observing the sky and the changes in seasons to help solidify their understanding of the concepts learned. (1 minute)

• Lastly, the teacher discusses the importance of the topic for everyday life. They explain that understanding the Earth's movements is not just important for science classes, but also for various aspects of life. For instance, farmers need to know about the changing of seasons to plan their crops, and navigators use the knowledge of the Earth's movements to guide their ships. The teacher also mentions that these concepts are fundamental for understanding other astronomical phenomena, such as eclipses and tides. (1 - 2 minutes)

• The teacher then ends the lesson by thanking the students for their active participation and curiosity, and encourages them to continue exploring and questioning the world around them. (1 minute)