Science

Science in the Sun

Our first science unit in Grade 3 is focusing on the SUN.  Some of the standards that we want children to understand are:

* Students will know the position of the Sun in the sky changes during the course of the day and from season to season.

* Students know sunlight can be blocked to create shadows.

* Predict the outcome of a simple investigation and compare the result with the prediction. 

We took compasses outside and found the directions of North, South, East, and West.




We pointed to where the Sun was during 2:00 pm.  We also pointed where the Sun was early in the morning at 9:15 am.  We discussed what was happening.




We traced our shadows early in the morning.  We predicted in which direction our shadow will be at 9:15 in the morning.  We all faced South and found out that at 9:15 in the morning our shadows will be in the West. We discussed why.

If you have time please ask your children what they know about where the Sun rises, sets and most importantly, what makes this happen.

The children will be given a short test on many of these areas to see if they have understood the concepts.  You will be receiving their test to have a look at soon. 

Some key concepts:

* The Earth spins on its axis

* The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day.

* A compass is a tool used to determine directions.

* Shadows are the areas of darkness created when light is blocked by an object.

* The shapes of shadows change over a day and depend on the position of the Sun in the sky.

* Day happens when a location of Earth is facing the Sun.

* Night happens when a location on Earth is facing away from the Sun.

* The exact path the Sun takes in the sky varies by season.  In summer the Sun is higher in the sky.  In winter the Sun is lower in the sky.