Big Idea 5: Earth in Space and Time

Humans continue to explore Earth's place in space. Gravity and energy influence the formation of galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy, stars, the Solar System, and Earth. Humankind's need to explore continues to lead to the development of knowledge and understanding of our Solar System.
General Information
Number: SC.1.E.5
Title: Earth in Space and Time
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 1
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

SC.1.E.5.In.1
Identify that there are many stars in the sky.
SC.1.E.5.In.2
Observe and recognize that an object will fall when it is dropped.
SC.1.E.5.In.3
Identify that magnifiers enlarge the appearance of objects.
SC.1.E.5.In.4
Recognize positive and harmful effects of sunlight.

Supported

SC.1.E.5.Su.1
Recognize that there are many stars in the sky.
SC.1.E.5.Su.2
Indicate the location of an object before and after it falls.
SC.1.E.5.Su.3
Match a magnified item to its original item.
SC.1.E.5.Su.4
Recognize a positive effect and a negative effect of sunlight.

Participatory

SC.1.E.5.Pa.1
Associate stars with the night sky.
SC.1.E.5.Pa.2
Track objects that fall to the ground.
SC.1.E.5.Pa.3
Recognize a familiar object enlarged by magnification.
SC.1.E.5.Pa.4
Recognize effects of sunlight, such as warming and giving light.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Image/Photograph

Salt crystal:

This grain of salt has been magnified. Magnification makes the salt grain look very different.

Type: Image/Photograph

Lesson Plans

Starry Night!:

Students will observe the night sky and keep an observation log of what they see and what questions they develop. The teacher will guide the students to use an organizational chart. Students will write what they learned about stars with a drawing of the night sky. Nonfiction texts and websites are used as sources of information throughout the lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Dive, Drop, and Down:

This lesson allows students to explore and learn about the Law of Gravity. In this lesson, students will discover how gravity affects different household objects. Students will also discuss with the class and teacher to explain what gravity is and how it correlates to the world around us. This lesson should take two science blocks of 45 minutes each to complete.

Type: Lesson Plan

Stargazer:

In this lesson, students will explore the stars in the sky using observations with our eyes and observations with hand lenses. Students will also explore folktales of how the shapes in the stars came to be.

Type: Lesson Plan

"Handy" Constellations:

This lesson allows students to explore constellations, starting with Gemini. Students will learn about constellations and learn that there are more stars in the sky than anyone can easily count. Students will create a constellation of their own using the outline of their hand. At the end of the lesson, the students will understand that constellations can be viewed differently by others. A worksheet will be completed as a summative assessment.

This is part two of a two-part lesson series. Each lesson can be done independently.

Type: Lesson Plan

Night Sky Introduction:

This lesson plan is an introductory lesson for first graders on the objects seen in the night sky and stars.

Type: Lesson Plan

Telescopes and Constellations:

In this two-session lesson, students will use a real telescope to observe how objects appear closer in an artificial night sky. Students will also create a telescope model that will represent how a specific constellation looks in the night sky. The students will be using a Science Journal or "My Space Book" to make a pictorial record of their findings.

Type: Lesson Plan

Falling Down? A Lesson on Gravity:

In the lesson Falling Down? students will explore why objects fall. They will explore the meaning of gravity and the invisible pull to the center of the Earth. They will also explore why objects don't fall.

Type: Lesson Plan

Night Journals:

This project engages students in data collection as they record their observations of the stars over a month-long period. Teachers keep a class journal (recording their own observations) and students will record their observations each night in their journals by drawing what they saw. Discussion and a follow-up activity involving marshmallows emphasize the multitude and placement of stars.

Type: Lesson Plan

Look Out Below!:

In this lesson students explore the force of gravity by testing gravity's pull with parachutes. The students will investigate the idea of gravity pulling objects to the ground unless something holds it up.

Type: Lesson Plan

Magnify It!:

In this lesson, students will view objects of various sizes from several viewing distances to discover that their visual field is limited. Students will record what they see and will compare their observations with classmates in an open, nonjudgmental forum. They will have the opportunity to speculate about and experiment freely with magnifying glasses and will also conduct more structured experiments.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Magnification:

Learn about magnification, how it works, and different types of magnifiers with this interactive tutorial!

Type: Original Student Tutorial

What Goes Up:

Look at the effect gravity has on objects as you complete this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Sun: Hurtful or Helpful?:

Look at how the Sun is helpful and harmful in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Seeing Stars:

Explore stars in outer space (including our own Sun) in this interactive tutorial. You'll learn what they're made of, how many there are, and how magnifiers can help us see them.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Presentation/Slideshow

Sunwise a Program that Radiates Good Ideas: K-2 Introductory Lesson PowerPoint :

The Sunwise School Program aims to teach children and their caregivers how to protect themselves from the sun. The specific resources, the "Sunwise K-2 Introductory Lesson PowerPoint," and the "Speaker Notes for the K-2 Introductory Lesson," describe both the beneficial and harmful properties of the sun in a manner understandable for primary grades students. The PowerPoint presentation also has slides that demonstrate to children how various animals protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Unit/Lesson Sequences

Properties of the Sun:

These two lesson plans provide projects that allow students to 1) design, create, and test shade structures using given materials (connecting to the engineering design process) and 2) explore harmful and beneficial properties of the Sun through observing the effects of exposure or non-exposure of certain materials to sunlight and heat.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Magnification:

These lessons allow students to explore how magnifiers work by using different types of magnifiers to observe classroom objects and their own creations.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

What Makes Objects Move?:

In this unit, students use different objects and observations to explore what factors influence an objects' motion.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Sun and Me:

This series of activities was developed by the Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida. The purpose of this unit is to create an awareness of the power of solar energy, the importance of it in our lives, and its impact on the future of energy development.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Magnification:

Learn about magnification, how it works, and different types of magnifiers with this interactive tutorial!

Type: Original Student Tutorial

What Goes Up:

Look at the effect gravity has on objects as you complete this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Sun: Hurtful or Helpful?:

Look at how the Sun is helpful and harmful in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Seeing Stars:

Explore stars in outer space (including our own Sun) in this interactive tutorial. You'll learn what they're made of, how many there are, and how magnifiers can help us see them.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.