1. The Sun It’s big! It’s bright! It’s necessary!
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2. 3-2-1 The Sun On your whiteboards
Three things you already know about the Sun
(each person writes one item)
Two things you find interesting about the Sun
(talk among your group members)
One question you still have about the Sun
While students are completing the activity, circulate the room and see where the students’ thinking is. Choose a few students who have a great summary of what you have already covered on the Sun. Allow students to offer up their questions and see if anyone can answer them already. Keep the unanswered questions in mind as you teach and try and address as many as possible to feed into students’ curiosity.
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3. NASA Sun Song
Click the hyperlink on the picture above. Make sure the sound is on. Show the video one time completely through to enjoy the song. Then play the video again. Stop it after each key idea and have students discuss with a should partner what they heard and then add to their notes under their
Key information- Sun is made of gas. Energy comes from hydrogen changing to helium from nuclear fusion. Photosphere is layer we see. Places that are not so hot, Sunspots. Flares are giant explosions through the atmosphere. Chromosphere is the part you see in a solar eclipse.
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4. Review heat Transfer Radiation-energy transfer as particles or waves
Hand wiggles like a snake or wave up and down
Conduction- energy transfer by touching
Clap hands together
Convection- energy transfer by circulation or movement in a liquid or gas
Hand moves in a circular path
Ask students to come up with some examples of each. The hand movements should help them remember which is which if they continue to practice them. Every time you use these words, everyone should do the hand signal.
Examples of Radiation-fire, open an oven door, Sun
Examples of Conduction-pot touching burner on a stove, ironing clothes, feet on a hot sand beach
Examples of Convection-Wind, water boiling in a pot, water cycle
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5. Structure of the Sun (layers)
1. Core 2. Radiative zone 3. Convective zone 4. Photosphere 5. Chromosphere 6. Corona 7. Sunspot 8. Granules 9. Prominence
This image is just to introduce each of the Sun’s structures. Make sure to point that granules are in the picture but are not assessed and will not be covered.
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6. Structure of the Sun (layers)
Core- center of the Sun
15,000,000º C
Nuclear fusion occurs here
If you have not already covered nuclear fusion you will need to cover it hear. If you have ask students to turn to the person sitting next to them. Have them discuss nuclear fusion. Circulate the room and see where each groups thinking is? Students tend to have a misconception that the Sun is on fire. Ask students what is required to have fire and what happens in a fire? It requires oxygen and combustion. Nuclear fusion is the fusion of atoms which releases energy.
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7. Structure of the Sun (layers)
Radiative zone- layer in which energy is radiated away from the core
Heat moves out from the center
Convective zone
Radiative zone
Core
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8. Structure of the Sun (layers)
Convective zone-Layer of the Sun in which energy travels by convection
Energy flows from radiative zone to the photosphere I
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9. Structure of the Sun (layers)
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Structure of the Sun (layers)
Photosphere (photo means light)- visible surface of the Sun
Average temperature 5,527º C
Layer in which energy escapes to space
Photo means light in Latin. Instead of giving students this information you can have them come up with other words that have that meaning and see if they can come to that conclusion on their own.

10. Structure of the Sun (layers)
Chromosphere-The middle layer of the Sun’s atmosphere
Temperatures reach 6,000º C
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11. Structure of the Sun (layers)
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Structure of the Sun (layers)
Corona- the outermost layer of the Sun Temperature reaches 2,000,000º C

12. Stop and process
Take your notes and draw a picture of the Sun. Include all 6 layers.
Leave space to add solar activity
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13. Rotation versus revolution
Does the Sun rotate or revolve?
Let’s act it out!
Stand in one spot and spin in a circle. Is this rotation or revolution?
Now walk around the classroom in a circle. Is this rotation or revolution?
Students often confuse these two terms. Since the rotation of the Sun affects the solar activity they need to have these terms straight.
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14. Solar activity Sunspots- dark areas on the Sun’s surface
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Solar activity
Sunspots- dark areas on the Sun’s surface
They are 1,500ºC
Last days to months
Activity occurs on an 11 year cycle
Caused by Sun’s magnet field

15. Solar activity
Solar Flares- an explosion of energy from the photosphere
Can extend as far as Corona
Watch quick video
Watch video of a solar flare
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16. Solar activity
Prominences- Huge loops of cool gas that go out from the photosphere
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17. Let’s act it out Solar Flare- Make a Y with your arms
Solar Prominence- Make an O with your arms above your head.
For prominence, make a Y and then touch your fingers together.
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18. Finishing your diagram
Add examples of the solar activities to your model( Sunspots, solar flares, prominences)
Get with your group and compare your diagrams. Fix them until they are all perfect.
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19. (C) Copyright 2014 - all rights reserved www.cpalms.org
Name that feature
Have students name that feature. Call out features of the Sun and have students hold up the number of fingers that corresponds with that feature.