Earth's Place in the Universe - 5th Grade Science Unit

Earth's Place In the Universe

Are you covering Earth's Place In the Universe, space, and the solar system in your 4th or 5th-grade class?

The basic idea is that the Sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer to Earth. The rotation of Earth on its axis and orbit of Earth around the Sun causes observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the Sun and stars at different times of the day, month, and year. 

This engaging unit begins with phenomena and will help you teach your class about the sun's brightness, the seasonal appearance of stars, and daily changes of shadows. Students will love these interesting activities regarding the Sun's brightness, the seasonal appearance of stars, and daily changes of shadows. This resource uses phenomena to engage the students. This resource is designed to address two of the 5th grade standards for NGSS from the Earth’s Place in the Universe strand.

It's designed to address two of the 5th grade NGSS standards (NGSS 5-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-2) and it's also aligned with Utah SEEd 4th grade standards (Utah SEEd 4.4.1 and 4.4.2). Students will use several Science and Engineering Practices to make sense of this science. 

5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.

5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.

Also aligned with Utah SEEd 4th grade standards

Utah SEEd 4.4.1

Construct an explanation that differences in the apparent brightness of the Sun compared to other stars is due to scale. Emphasize relative distance from Earth, not sizes of stars.

Utah SEEd 4.4.2

Analyze and interpret data of observable patterns to show that Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun.

Students will learn that the movements in the solar system affect how we see the night sky and how we see shadows.  Students will also learn that stars may be bigger than our Sun, but not appear that way because of the great distance they are from Earth.  

Students will also learn about the make-up and layers of our Sun and about the life cycle of a star. Students will create graphs and answer questions based on the graph they have created.

Students will LOVE this complete unit filled with many different interesting activities!

If you use my suggested timeline, this LARGE unit will cover 13 days of lessons!

It includes two informative slideshows, hands-on activities, labs, interactive notebook flaps, informational text passages, response pages, 5E lesson plans, worksheets, and a quiz to complete the unit in the format of end of year testing.

Students will learn that the movements in the solar system affect how we see the night sky and how we see shadows.

Students will also learn that stars may be bigger than our Sun, but not appear that way because of their great distance from Earth.

You will also want to look at other 5th grade resources like Water Distribution on Earth.  I have done the math for you!

This complete unit will save you TIME and ENERGY!  Don't create your own unit on Earth's place in the universe - I've done the work for you!

Other teachers LOVE this unit.  It's got a perfect rating on TPT and 100+ perfect reviews!

Check out two of the perfect ratings:

Just love the way the author really ties to the standard and has it so well planned out. The suggested schedule is really great. No busy work here. This is a rich standards based unit. Just what I have come to expect from this author.

 The science curriculum at my school is not very clear, this helped me and my class out SO much!

Try this unit in your classroom TODAY:

Earth's Place In the Universe 5th Grade

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