Revising Solar System WALT: Demonstrate understanding of planets, seasons, the moon phases & eclipses

Timed Task – 5 minutes Describe and explain the following graph (5) CLUE– use these sentences to help you and identify any that are false Overall the population size of both predator and prey are cyclical The predator population generally tracks the peaks in prey population The prey population generally tracks the peaks in predator population Most of the time the size prey population is greater than the predator population

Solar System Quickly copy and name planets

Why can the Aussies (& Kenyans) have their Christmas lunch on the beach?

Why is it so hot in Kenya and not in Britain?

Why do you think it gets dark so early in Winter and so late in Summer? How does Norway have a Midnight Sun? Jot down 3 sentences in rough about why you think this is. We will do the lesson and then review the rough book answers later to see how accurate they were and how students have now improved.

The Earth orbits the sun which takes 365 days The different seasons occur because the axis of the spin of the Earth is at an angle to the sun Because of the tilt, different parts of the Earth are orientated towards the sun at different times of the year Write this down

Get them to draw this. Can exaggerate tilt a bit if want to really demonstrate.

Why do you think Summer is warmer than Winter? The Sun's rays hit the specific part of the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter The days are much longer than the nights during the summer therefore there is more time for the Earth to heat up from the sun. Talk about difference between life in UK and life on Equator – more sun damage and also no difference in day length

Write this down: The moon orbits the Earth once every 28 days. As the moon travels around the earth we see different amounts of the lit side of the moon.

Questions: In your books Why do we always see the same side of the moon? Do you think that you would see the same phase of the moon as the same people who live in Australia on the same night? Why?

What do you think a solar eclipse would be? A solar eclipse is when: The moon comes between the Earth and sun, blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow over the Earth’s surface. There are approx. 2 per year. A lunar eclipse is when: The moon travels through the Earth’s shadow.

Plenary In pairs – number 1 and 2 Number 1s – explain to your partner what position the moon is in when it is a new moon Number 2s – explain to your partner the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse USE A DRAWING IN ROUGH TO HELP YOU EXPLAIN