Planets, shadows and seasons: 3rd to 5th science
The sun, the planets, shadows and seasons. A free 3rd to 5th lesson plan with a hook, practice that links to free activities, and an exit ticket. Copy it and make it yours.
Lesson plan
Goal
- Students work toward: the sun, the planets, shadows and seasons.
Hook (5 min)
- Ask the class: Why does your shadow change size during the day?
- Take two or three answers and write them where everyone can see them.
Teach (15 min)
- Say the big idea in one plain sentence: planets, shadows and seasons.
- Show one example, then one that is not an example, and ask how the two differ.
- Have students tell a partner or a small group the idea in their own words.
Practise (20 min)
- Choose one for the whole class or let groups pick:
- Play: Planets in order (https://peabody.kids/space/planets-in-order/game)
- Learn: Shadows tell the time (https://peabody.kids/space/school/shadows-tell-time)
- Read: Why Do We Have Seasons? (https://peabody.kids/library/why-do-we-have-seasons)
- Read: How Many Planets Are There? (https://peabody.kids/library/how-many-planets-are-there)
- Try: Quiz: Earth and space (https://peabody.kids/practice/sci/earth)
Exit ticket (5 min)
- On a slip or aloud: one thing I learned about planets, shadows and seasons, and one question I still have.
- Sort the slips into: got it, nearly, not yet. Start tomorrow with the last pile.
Written by Peabody from its own skill pages. Free, no ads, no sign-in. Children can practise this on Peabody. More from teachers: teacher-shared resources.