First graders learn why we have day and night — the Earth spins like a top, turning our side toward the Sun (day) and then away (night) — and what we can see in the daytime and nighttime sky.
Students will be able to…
The Sun rises every morning and sets every night, like clockwork. Why does the sky go from bright day to dark night, over and over?
Project this and tap each idea. Have children learn why the spinning Earth gives us day and night!
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
The Sun rises and sets every day — why does the sky change from light to dark?
Students investigate.
Students explain.
Students elaborate.
Students conclude.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (Grade 1 / Elementary Science).
Use observations of the Sun, Moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
Make observations to describe seasonal patterns of daylight.
Observe and describe patterns in weather and sky.
Analyzing and interpreting data.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have families look at the daytime sky (the Sun) and the nighttime sky (the Moon and stars) and talk about the spinning Earth. A printable day-and-night sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.