Grade/Subject: ​Gr. 6 Science Duration: ​45 minutes 

Unit: ​Space Science Lesson: ​Shining Student 
KSA’s: ​1,3,4,5, 6, 9, 10                Date: ​Jan 20th

 
OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES 

General Learning Outcomes: ​Students will…  

6-7 Observe, describe and interpret the movement of objects in the sky, identify 
patterns and order in these movements 

Specific Learning Outcomes:​ ​Students will… 

3 - Recognize that the apparent movement of objects in the night sky is regular 
and predictable, and explain how this apparent movement is related to Earth’s 
rotation. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES ​Students will... 

-Observe how the apparent movement of objects in the sky is actually caused 
by the rotation of the earth 
-Explain how the Sun’s movement has multiple effects: eg) casts shadows on the 
earth, allows us to see seasonal stars 
 

                                                ASSESSMENTS              

Observations: ​Check for understanding in role play 

Key Questions: ​Do stars move? Why can you only see stars at certain times of 
the year? Can I see a star on the opposite side of the sun? Does Polaris move? 
Products/Performances:​ Role play, Globe rotation 

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT 

Master #4, yellow construction paper, scissors, light source, globe, plasticine, 
toothpick, chalk 

PROCEDURE 

Prep: ​Display Master #4, cue video, (write out script of polaris video) 

Introduction (5 minutes) 
 
Grade/Subject: ​Gr. 6 Science Duration: ​45 minutes 
Unit: ​Space Science Lesson: ​Shining Student 
KSA’s: ​1,3,4,5, 6, 9, 10                Date: ​Jan 20th

Attention Grabber:​ Have you ever seen the big dipper in any of these positions? 
I hope you found it in your recording sheets last night. 
 
Assessment of Prior Knowledge:​ What did we learn yesterday about how stars 
orbit the earth seasonally? 
Expectations for Learning and Behaviour: ​We will be going to the learning 
commons to do this activity. 
Transition to body: ​Have student pass out construction paper scraps to 
people, have them make a star of their own. One student will be earth (no star) 
 
Grade/Subject: ​Gr. 6 Science Duration: ​45 minutes 
Unit: ​Space Science Lesson: ​Shining Student 
KSA’s: ​1,3,4,5, 6, 9, 10                Date: ​Jan 20th

Body  
Learning Activity #1 – ​Shining Student Role Play (15 minutes) 
Move to common area. Have students hold hands to stand in circle, facing 
inwards, drop hands. Earth should be near center. Flashlight represents sun in 
the middle. The Earth should orbit slowly counterclockwise around the sun. As 
they orbit, they call out names of student “stars” 
 
Students should determine when certain stars are visible from earth, and relate 
the apparent star movement to earth’s rotation. (stars don’t actually “move” - 
the earth is rotating) 
 
-stars are visible depending on where on the planet you view the sky, the 
position of the earth in its yearly journey around the sun. you cant see stars on 
the opposite side of the sun. 
 
Ask: Do stars move? Why can you only see stars at certain times of the year? 
Can I see a star on the opposite side of the sun? Where is our night sky if the 
earth is in *position* 
 
Assessments/Differentiation:​ Formative: Ask different students to tell me what 
stars they can see. 
 
Learning Activity #2- ​Casting Shadows (15 minutes) 
Stick a piece of plasticine in Lethbridge and put toothpick into plasticine. 
Demonstrate day and night with flashlight, have student turn the globe. Follow 
the toothpick around one complete revolution. Students should note the length 
of shadow cast by toothpick as earth rotates. 
Ask: How do you think the shadow and the sun are related? When do you think 
shadow will be shortest?  
On Whiteboard: Ask a student to predict the location of the sun by viewing the 
position of the shadow 
 
Learning Activity #3: Video (4 minutes) 
-Determine how constellations look different in the different months of the year. 
Particularly the big dipper. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPNawTZOSQ 
(1:50) 
-Polaris video: ​The star that does not move. (Bad audio: talk over the video, find 
music) (2:08) 
 
Assessments: ​Tell me one thing you found interesting about this video. 
 
Grade/Subject: ​Gr. 6 Science Duration: ​45 minutes 
Unit: ​Space Science Lesson: ​Shining Student 
KSA’s: ​1,3,4,5, 6, 9, 10                Date: ​Jan 20th

Closure (5 minutes) 
Assessment of Learning: ​Thumb check for understanding 
 
Feedback from students: ​Did you learn anything interesting today? Write it on 
your exit slip and place it on our board as you leave. 
 
Feedback to students: ​Thank them for acting well in the common area and 
participating in the role play 
 
Transition to next lesson: ​Next class we will be making sundials 
 
Sponge : ​Show “Starry Night” picture and ask if they think they could figure out 
what day it was painted, what they can observe, how it relates to this lesson. 

Video: Why Do Stars Move Across The Sky?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZxC58Y688​ (3:38) 

LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED 

Resource #1: ​Edmonton Public Schools Sky Science Brown Book 

Resource #2:​ Wilson Notebook 
Resource #3:​Casting Shadows 
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/earth-sun/6565 

Resource #4: ​Video: Why Do Stars Move Across The Sky?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZxC58Y688  
 
Reflections: