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Education use licence

What causes day and night? The rising of the Sun and the Moon are daily reminders of the awe and wonder, beauty and power of the universe. Studying the relationships between the Sun, Earth and Moon helps us understand how we experience day and night on Earth. It also helps us understand directions in terms of North, South, East and West, how time is based on the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky and how time can be determined using a sundial. The Spinning in space unit is an ideal way to link science with literacy in the classroom. Students explore the sizes, shapes, positions and movements of the Sun, Earth and Moon. They investigate how shadows change throughout the day and link these changes to the Sun's apparent movement across the sky. Students role-play the movements of the Earth in relation to the Sun and Moon. Through investigations, they explain day and night in terms of the Earth spinning on its axis.

Unit at a glance (PDF)
Unit outcomes (PDF)
Unit overview (PDF) (DOC)
Equipment lists (PDF)
Assessment resources
Resource sheets
Factual and narrative texts
Useful websites

Assessment resources

In Primary Connections units, assessment is an ongoing and embedded process which enhances learning.

Recording and reporting tools included are:

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Assessment checklists (PDF) (DOC) Assessment rubrics (PDF) (DOC) Science journal/work sample tags (PDF) (DOC)

These tools provide only a snapshot of the variety of assessment and reporting methods that can be used in conjunction with Primary Connections.

Resource sheets

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Day and Night: What do you think? (PDF) Shadow stick investigation planner (PDF) Role badges (PDF) (RTF)

Factual and narrative texts and useful websites

Factual and narrative texts:

Science works series: sun up, sun down: the story of day and night
Bailey, Jacqui, Lilly, Matthew (Blake Education, 2003, 30pp)
ISBN: 1 920826 12 2

The Greenwich guide to day and night
Dolan, Graham (Heinemann Library, 2001, 32pp)
ISBN: 0 431 13000 0

Go facts series: the Sun's energy
Pike, Katy, O'Keefe, Maureen (Blake Publishing, 2004, 14pp)
ISBN: 1 86509 314 9

Useful websites

Astronomy picture of the day
Each day a different image or photograph of our universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

Melbourne planetarium
Full of information about the sky, earth, moon, stars, planets and stars including seasonal times and science facts.

Nasa kids' club
Website designed for kids with facts, interviews, games, and activities about space and space exploration.

StarChild
A learning centre for young astronomers.

The nine planets
A multimedia tour of the solar system.