Class: ScienceFirst Grade

Teacher: Mr. Josephson

Date: April 4-8, 2016

Weekly Lesson Plan

The sun warms the earth

E.ES: Develop an understanding of the warming of the Earth by the sun as the major source of energy for phenomenon on Earth and how the suns warming relates to weather, climate, seasons,
and the water cycle. Understand how human interaction and use of natural resources affects the environment.
E.ES.E.1 Solar Energy- The sun warms the land, air and water and helps plants grow.
E.ES.01.11 Identify the sun as the most important source of heat which warms the land, air, and water of the Earth.
Activity

Objective
:

Homewor
k:

Engage/
Do Now:

Day 1
I can build an improved
solution to an engineering
challenge.

Day 2
I can complete a pretest and
explain what I already know about
the sun and earth.

Day 3
I can

T will review pros and cons

from the last engineering
challengewhat went well?
What would you do differently?

Explore:

T will review their challenge:

With 20 pieces of spaghetti, 1
yard of tape, 1 yard of twine,
and 1 large marshmallow,
teams of four must build as tall
of a tower as they can WITH
THE MARSHMALLOW ON
TOP.
No extra supplies will be given.
You do not have to use all of
the supplies. The tower must
stand on its own.
St will have 15 minutes to work
in teams of four.
T will guide students though a
debrief afterwardswhat went
well? What didnt? How would
you do better the next time?
T will guide students though a
debrief afterwardsask
students if the challenge was
easier or more difficult the
second time around. T will
connect how failure can lead to
learning.

St will take a unit pre-test.

St will engage in a think-pair share
about things they know about the
sun and earth.
WG will discuss what they know
about the sun and earth T will
record.
St will engage in a think-pair share
about things they want to know
about the sun and earth.
WG will discuss what they want to
know about the sun and earth T
will record.

Evaluate planning sheets.

Evaluate:

Technolo
gy:

Evaluate planning sheets.

Review all vocabulary terms. Predict,

observe, explain.

Vocabulary: axis, day, east, heat, light, night, noon,

rotation, solar, sun, sunrise, sunset, west

Differentiation/ Strategies / Assessment

I had first graders crying two weeks ago during the marshmallow challengebut I think it was
a positive experience. Failure is a big part of science. Getting results that are unexpected or
having a device/test/ect fail is a big part of the process. Im hoping that this time around the
students are able appreciate the lessons they learned from their shortcomings last time.

Focus questions
How does the Sun affect the Earths temperature?
How does the Sun appear to move in predictable patterns across the sky?
What causes day and night?
How can the Suns heat be used to solve problems?

Materials and Resources to support learning

Harcourt SCIENCE Books

Chart paper, clay, crayons, glue, paper, construction paper, pipe cleaners