OpenSciEd Unit 8.4 · Lesson 03 · 3.C
Look for: Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle toward Pol…
From Teacher Edition
Facilitation guidance from the lesson plan — what to notice in student thinking and how to respond while teaching.
Building towards
3.C Revise a model of the patterns of movement of the Earth around the Sun to explain changes in the amount of sunlight and angle of elevation of the Sun in the sky during the year due to Earth’s axis being tilted toward Polaris.
What to look / listen for
Models should identify the patterns of movement of the Earth around the Sun during a year to explain why there are cyclical changes in the amount of daylight and angle of elevation of the Sun in the sky. Look for the following:
- Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle toward Polaris.
- As the Earth orbits around the Sun, differences in the amount of daylight and angle of elevation of the Sun in the sky change during certain times of the year in a repeating pattern.
What to do
Use your review of student-revised models to make sure they understand that Earth’s axis is tilted and points toward Polaris. This understanding is key for moving forward in the unit. If students are missing this understanding, ask them, What would explain why the amount of daylight and angle of elevation of the Sun in the sky changes during the year? Or What impact does Earth’s orientation in space have on the amount of sunlight or the angle of elevation of the Sun in the sky during the year? Have students revisit the patterns they identified earlier in the lesson to provide evidence for their thinking.