ALEX Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

As part of the study of space, the students will observe, describe and predict the patterns of the moon. Students will view a Nearpod presentation about the moon's phases to introduce the topic. The students will represent the moon's phases using black and white sandwich cookies and record the phases in their Science journals.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 9 :

9 ) Observe seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset to describe the relationship between the number of hours of daylight and the time of year (e.g., more hours of daylight during summer as compared to winter).

[SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

[SC2015] (1) 2 :

2 ) Construct explanations from observations that objects can be seen only when light is available to illuminate them (e.g., moon being illuminated by the sun, colors and patterns in a kaleidoscope being illuminated when held toward a light).

This is an interdisciplinary lesson about shadows and light where we track the motion of the sun across the sky. It involves components of sunrise, sunset, involving Mathematics, Science, and English Language Arts. This lesson will involve NASA resources, hands- on inquiry, and observational data.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

[SC2015] (1) 9 :

9 ) Observe seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset to describe the relationship between the number of hours of daylight and the time of year (e.g., more hours of daylight during summer as compared to winter).

Our star, the Sun, is an ordinary star. It is not particularly special compared to other stars in the universe; however, it is crucially important to us. As the massive energy source at the center of our solar system, the Sun is responsible for Earth's climate, weather, and life. In this lesson, students use observations, activities, and videos to learn basic facts about the Sun. Students also model the mechanics of day and night and use solar energy to make a tasty treat.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Explore real-life and animated views illustrating the daily patterns of motion of the Sun, Moon, and stars in the sky. Students engage with a variety of media such as an interactive storybook, time-lapse videos, and images to identify evidence of motion and predict future appearances of the Sun, Moon, and stars.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Observe how the Sun, Moon, and stars are visible in the sky at different times of the day and identify predictable patterns in the apparent motion of these objects with this WGBH lesson plan. Students record and analyze data to identify patterns that can be used to predict future appearances in the sky. This lesson plan includes media such as a slideshow, videos, interactive activities, and live-action video clips.

This resource was developed through WGBH’s Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms project, in collaboration with NASA.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Students connect the stars together and learn more about constellations from Mindy. Then, let Mindy tell you more about the myths and legends that inspired the constellations.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Students use an interactive model to gather evidence about the visible Moon’s changing pattern over 30 days in this resource from Astronomy Education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. They use this evidence to record and make predictions about the Moon’s appearance in the sky.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 2 :

2 ) Construct explanations from observations that objects can be seen only when light is available to illuminate them (e.g., moon being illuminated by the sun, colors and patterns in a kaleidoscope being illuminated when held toward a light).

[SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

[SC2015] ES6 (6) 2 :

2 ) Construct models and use simulations (e.g., diagrams of the relationship between Earth and man-made satellites, rocket launch, International Space Station, elliptical orbits, black holes, life cycles of stars, orbital periods of objects within the solar system, astronomical units and light years) to explain the role of gravity in affecting the motions of celestial bodies bodies (e.g., planets, moons, comets, asteroids, meteors) within galaxies and the solar system.

Earth’s moon reflects the sun, and so it is visible at night. It also rotates at the same rate that it orbits, 27 days, which means that we only see one side of it. The moon has one-sixth of the gravity of Earth and no atmosphere at all!

The classroom resource provides a slide show that will explain the characteristics of Earth's moon. There is also a short test that can be used to assess students' understanding.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Observe the regular, predictable patterns of the Sun, Moon, and stars in the sky in this media gallery from WGBH. Interact with the animated storybook to observe and predict patterns of the Sun, Moon, and stars over a day and analyze evidence of the apparent movement of the Sun along the arc-like path over a day in a time-lapse video.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

[SC2015] ES6 (6) 1 :

1 ) Create and manipulate models (e.g., physical, graphical, conceptual) to explain the occurrences of day/night cycles, length of year, seasons, tides, eclipses, and lunar phases based on patterns of the observed motions of celestial bodies.

Students observe representational images and use them as evidence to describe the Moon’s appearance at different times of the month. The digital slideshow provides students with the opportunity to observe and use evidence from their observations to predict and record how the Moon appears to follow a regular pattern of change over time.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Students will observe how the Moon appears in the sky when viewed on different days. The animated interactive storybook is used to give students an opportunity to interact with a character-guided observational experience of the Moon as they observe, analyze, and describe the Moon’s appearance in the sky.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

Students observe representational images and use them as evidence to describe how the Moon is visible in the day and night sky. The digital slideshow is used to provide students with the opportunity to observe and describe how the Moon can be visible in the day sky and night sky at different times and from different locations from our viewpoint on Earth.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

In this lesson, students record the position of the sun in the morning and afternoon and make connections to the directions east and west. They practice moving north, south, east, and west and use cardinal directions to read a map.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2015] (1) 10 :

10 ) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. [RI.1.1]

[SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

The teacher will present an informational text from the website, ReadWorks. The students and teacher can interact with this non-fiction text by annotating the text digitally. The students will answer the questions associated with the article as an assessment. This learning activity can be used to explain why the sun is visible during the day and other stars are visible at night, serve as reinforcement after students have already learned this concept, or be used as an assessment at the conclusion of a lesson.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2015] (1) 10 :

10 ) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. [RI.1.1]

[SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

The teacher will present an informational text from the website, ReadWorks. The students and teacher can interact with this non-fiction text by annotating the text digitally. The students will answer the questions associated with the article as an assessment. This learning activity can be used to introduce students to the different appearances of stars in the night sky, serve as reinforcement after students have already learned this concept, or be used as an assessment at the conclusion of a lesson. This article could be a precursor to students making their own observations of stars at night.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2015] (1) 19 :

19 ) With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for Grade 1. [RI.1.10]

[SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

The teacher will present an informational fiction text from the website, ReadWorks. The students and teacher can interact with this non-fiction text by annotating the text digitally. The students will answer the questions associated with the article as an assessment. This learning activity can be used as an introduction to the lunar cycle, serve as reinforcement after students have already learned this concept, or be used as an assessment at the conclusion of a lesson. This informational fiction text could provide background knowledge before students create their own moon journal to observe the changing lunar phases. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2015] (0) 17 :

17 ) With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text. [RI.K.8]

[ELA2015] (0) 23 :

23 ) Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding. [RF.K.4]

[ELA2015] (0) 31 :

31 ) Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups. [SL.K.1]

a. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion). [SL.K.1a]

b. Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges. [SL.K.1b]

[ELA2015] (0) 40 :

40 ) With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings. [L.K.5]

a. Sort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent. [L.K.5a]

b. Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms). [L.K.5b]

c. Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful). [L.K.5c]

d. Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings. [L.K.5d]

[ELA2015] (1) 4 :

4 ) Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. [RL.1.4]

[ELA2015] (1) 9 :

9 ) With prompting and support, read prose and poetry of appropriate complexity for Grade 1. [RL.1.10]

[ELA2015] (1) 24 :

24 ) Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure. [W.1.1]

a. Write simple poems addressing a topic. (Alabama)

[ELA2015] (1) 39 :

39 ) Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies. [L.1.4]

a. Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. [L.1.4a]

b. Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word. [L.1.4b]

c. Identify frequently occurring root words (e.g., look) and their inflectional forms (e.g., looks, looked, looking). [L.1.4c]

d. Apply alphabetical order to the first letter of words to access information. (Alabama)

[ELA2015] (2) 4 :

4 ) Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song. [RL.2.4]

[ELA2015] (2) 21 :

21 ) Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. [RF.2.4]

a. Read on-level text with purpose and understanding. [RF.2.4a]

b. Read on-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings. [RF.2.4b]

c. Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary. [RF.2.4c]

[ELA2015] (2) 22 :

22 ) Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section. [W.2.1]

a. Write free verse poetry to express ideas. (Alabama)

[SC2015] (0) 7 :

7 ) Observe and describe the effects of sunlight on Earth's surface (e.g., heat from the sun causing evaporation of water or increased temperature of soil, rocks, sand, and water).

[SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

What makes a shadow? Do shadows change? Can a person escape his or her shadow? These and many other questions provide the framework for students to explore their prior knowledge about shadows as fiction, informational texts, and poetry. In this lesson, language arts skills are linked to the learning of science in a literacy-based approach to the study of shadows. Through discussion of the literature on shadows and the use of questioning techniques to probe prior knowledge, students begin to explore scientific concepts and develop and test hypotheses. After studying shadows, recording observations of shadows, and hearing poetry about shadows, students create their own poetic response incorporating their knowledge. The inclusion of poetry in the lesson encourages aesthetic appreciation of scientific phenomena and invites students to observe the world around them from new perspectives.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

The purpose of this lesson is for students to observe stars in the night sky and develop the understanding that there are more stars in the sky than anyone can easily count, and that their placement in the sky and brightness is not uniform.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize students with repeating patterns in nature, namely the phases of the moon. The activities in this lesson involve both individual and class work to facilitate students' learning about the predictability of the moon's phases. Beginning with a hands-on activity to give students a tangible demonstration of the moon's orbit and rotation, this lesson incorporates student observation, documentation, and online activities which encourage students to recognize the pattern of the moon's phases.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

In this lesson, students will observe and describe what the sky looks like at different times, identify objects in the sky and recognize changes over time, and look for objects that are common to the daytime and nighttime sky. This lesson is part of a four-lesson series in which students observe the daytime and nighttime sky regularly to identify sequences of changes and to look for patterns in these changes. In this first lesson, students will investigate objects in the daytime and nighttime sky.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

In this lesson, students will have a literature-based discussion to explore shadows. This lesson is part of a four-lesson series in which students observe the daytime and nighttime sky regularly to identify sequences of changes and to look for patterns in these changes. The students will build sundials and track changes in shadows over the course of one or more days to investigate the movement of the Earth in relation to the sun. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

[SC2015] (1) 9 :

9 ) Observe seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset to describe the relationship between the number of hours of daylight and the time of year (e.g., more hours of daylight during summer as compared to winter).

In this lesson, students will construct models to demonstrate their understanding of shadows. Student groups will make a three-dimensional model of the neighborhood after reading Bear Shadow by Frank Asch. They will track the sun shadows in the neighborhood. You will want to measure the sun shadows with students at least twice, and perhaps three or four times during the year, to see how they vary with the time of year. This lesson is part of a four-lesson series in which students observe the daytime and nighttime sky regularly to identify sequences of changes and to look for patterns in these changes.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SC2015] (1) 8 :

8 ) Observe, describe, and predict patterns of the sun, moon, and stars as they appear in the sky (e.g., sun and moon appearing to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; stars other than our sun being visible at night, but not during the day).

In this lesson, students will draw the moon's shape for each evening on a calendar and then determine the pattern in the shapes over several weeks. This lesson is part of a four-lesson series in which students observe the daytime and nighttime sky regularly to identify sequences of changes and to look for patterns in these changes.