Module 12: Patterns on Earth and Beyond-Science 2 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to observe the location of the Sun in the sky throughout the day, make predictions about why the Sun appears to be moving, explain the pattern of the Sun’s movement across the sky, and construct a kinesthetic model of the Sun and Earth. They will learn to observe the Moon at night, make predictions about the Moon and illustrate the phases of the Moon. Students will recognize weather patterns in different seasons and explain seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Sun Patterns
  1. Observe the location of the Sun in the sky throughout the day.
  2. Make predictions about why the Sun appears to be moving.
  3. Explain the pattern of the Sun’s movement across the sky.
  4. Construct a kinesthetic model of the Sun and Earth.
2 Moon Patterns
  1. Observe the Moon at night.
  2. Make predictions about the Moon.
  3. Illustrate the phases of the Moon.
3 Seasonal Patterns
  1. Recognize weather patterns in different seasons.
  2. Explain seasonal patterns of sunrise and sunset.
4 Project: Weather Preparedness
  1. Plan and create emergency preparedness kits for their homes.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
Sun
Earth
pattern
rotate
revolve
Moon
phases
seasons
patterns
sunrise
sunset
weather
preparedness
emergency kit

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Sun Patterns 6 Sun Scientist Assignment
2 Moon Patterns 6 Moon Observation Assignment
3 Seasonal Patterns 7 Seasonal Patterns Assignment
4 Project: Weather Preparedness 2 Weather Preparedness Project

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Sun Patterns After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the following: rotation, revolution, the purpose of the sun, why we need the sun, what causes day and night, and what causes seasons.
2 Moon Patterns Try this fun activity with your student. Get a package of Oreo cookies and have them create the phases of the moon by taking the top of the cookie off and taking the right amount of cream from the other half to show each moon phase.
3 Seasonal Patterns After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain what causes the seasons and why the weather changes from season to season.
4 Project: Weather Preparedness Ask your student to review the directions of the project before they begin and to review their work before they turn their project in.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Sun Patterns
  1. What is the sun?
Moon Patterns
  1. How would you describe the Moon’s patterns?
Seasonal Patterns
  1. How do seasons affect weather?
Project: Weather Preparedness
  1. How can you prepare for severe weather?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question
Sun Patterns Sun-sational Journey
  1. What causes day and night?
  2. What causes seasons?
Moon Patterns Mason Makes Moon Observations
  1. What did Mason observe about the moon?
Seasonal Patterns Sun and Seasons
  1. What causes the seasons?

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 Sun Up, Sun Down Gail Gibbons
2 What Makes Day and Night Dr. Franklyn M. Branley
3 The Moon Book Gail Gibbons
4 The Reasons for Seasons Gail Gibbons

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing
1 If possible, take your student to a local planetarium to view a show on the sun, moon, and stars.