Curriculum Unit Author
Janet B. Zegna
First Grade Space Explorers
Title
KEY LEARNING, ENDURING UNDERSTANDING, ETC.
From our place on Earth in the universe, we can observe patterns made by the movement of the Moon around our planet.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S) for the UNIT
Can you tell why the illuminated part of the Moon takes different shapes throughout the month?
Can you tell why the moon appears in different parts of the sky relative to your front door at different times during a month?
Can you tell why you can see the moon when the sun is in the sky?
Can you tell why you can see the moon on some nights when the sky is free of clouds, and not on other clear nights?
CONCEPT A CONCEPT B CONCEPT C
Making Observations
Making a Hypothesis About the Moon’s Movement Around the Earth
Illuminating Shapes
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS A ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS B ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS C
How can I use a model to represent my idea of how the moon moves around the Earth while the Earth moves around the Sun?
What can I do to tell if there is a pattern to the moon’s shape throughout the month?
How does light appear on different 2D and 3D shapes when the light source is stationary and the objects are moved around it?
VOCABULARY A VOCABULARY B VOCABULARY C
hypothesis model
represent theory
representation investigation
proof prove
explain explanation
observation pattern
month record
collect collection
data prediction
analyze
illumination light source
orbit three dimensional
two dimensional sphere
circle rectangular prism
rectangle cylinder
triangle pyramid
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/MATERIAL/TEXT/FILM/RESOURCES
Curriculum Unit Author
Janet B. Zegna
First Grade Space Explorers
Title
KEY LEARNING, ENDURING UNDERSTANDING, ETC.
From our place on Earth in the universe, we can observe patterns made by the movement of the Earth around the Sun.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S) for the UNIT
Can you tell why the Sun appears in different parts of the sky relative to your fixed position?
Can you tell if there is a different amount of sunlight during a day at different times of the year and why?
Can you tell if there is more daylight in summer or winter months?
CONCEPT A CONCEPT B
Location of the Sun (east to west) throughout a day
Amount of daylight on any given day;
The Sun and the seasons
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS A ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS B
How does the sun move across the sky?
Why do I have to wake up at night to go to school?
Why do I have to go to bed when it is still light outside?
VOCABULARY A VOCABULARY B
daylight rotation
east revolve
west revolution
north tilt
south axis
day hour
night arc
daylight sun’s path
season zenith
length
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/MATERIAL/TEXT/FILM/RESOURCES