Lesson details
Planetary Axial Tilts and Seasons
British Columbia · Grades 4, 11 · 60 minutes
Take a "stroll"' through the solar system to investigate Earth in the context of other celestial bodies in our solar system, including other planets and moons.
Students will be led through a brief lesson on the characteristics of the planets, including some of their moons and their own attributes. A special focus will be put on the planets and their axes, particularly Earth's own axis and how it - in relation to the Sun - causes seasons on Earth's surface. In this unique space, students will be able to experience in three dimensions how the Sun's energy is distributed across Earth unevenly due to its tilt. Students will be challenged to consider the effects that has on Earth's surface, as well as any potential similar effects on other planets according to their own tilts.
Lesson facts
- Region
- British Columbia
- Grades
- 4, 11
- Duration
- 60 minutes
- Group size
- 15–40 students, depending on the licensee or franchisee
- Availability
- Bookable · Book this lesson
Curriculum connections
Learning objectives
- Order the Planets: Students will place the order of the planets in our solar system.
- Season Identification: Students will observe and recognize Earth's relationship with the Sun and how Earth's tilt causes seasons on the surface.
- Describe Characteristics of Celestial Bodies: Students will be able to identify celestial bodies according to their characteristics.
British Columbia curriculum outcomes
Curriculum outcomes for British Columbia have not yet been added.
Grades
- Grade 4
- Grade 11
- High School
Skills
- Cause and Effect
- Content Mastery
- Critical Thinking
- Curiosity and Wonder
- Evidence Gathering
- Explaining and Solving
- Following Procedures
- Measurement and Data
- Participation
- Real-World Connections
- Scale and Proportion
- Scientific Inquiry
- Situational Awareness
- Spatial Reasoning
- Using Models
Activities
Tour Through the Solar System (Planet axis focus)
Activity Bubbles: Ordering the Planets
In small groups, students will enter "activity bubbles" to engage in an interactive activity that allows them to pick up, move, and place the planets of the solar system in the correct order.
| Objective | Description |
|---|---|
| Order the Planets | Students will place the order of the planets in our solar system. |
Scale in the Solar System
In this whole-class experience, students will be interacting with the planets of the solar system to create a more "to-scale" representation of their actual distances in space.
Earth's Axis and Seasons
| Objective | Description |
|---|---|
| Season Identification | Students will observe and recognize Earth's relationship with the Sun and how Earth's tilt causes seasons on the surface. |
Scavenger Hunt
A question-based scavenger hunt to assess student knowledge of concepts covered.
| Objective | Description |
|---|---|
| Describe Characteristics of Celestial Bodies | Students will be able to identify celestial bodies according to their characteristics. |
Asteroid Dodgeball
Watch out for that asteroid! Get active and play a tag-like game called Asteroid Dodgeball. Divide into teams, hold your blaster, and launch asteroids at the other team! The team with the highest number of tags is the winner.