Forces and space: Earth and space
Exploring day and night and the movement of the Earth, planets and Moon.
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Forces and space: Earth and space
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Describe the geocentric and heliocentric models.
- Name and describe the shape of celestial bodies.
- Describe the orbits of celestial bodies in the Solar System and name the force that keeps them in their orbits.
- Describe the orbit of the Moon around the Earth and its phases.
- Explain how day and night occur.
- Explain how the seasons occur.
- Explain how a sundial works.
- List some of the uses of satellites and explain why space junk poses a problem to them.
When working scientifically, pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Pose and identify testable questions about the movement of the celestial bodies in our Solar System.
- Use a model to represent the Solar System.
- Design and draw a table to record data on moons.
- Accurately draw day and night and seasons diagrams.
- Calibrate a sundial using a compass and torch and use it to measure time.
- Analyse patterns in temperature data for the Earth and use them to predict temperature values for the Earth in the future.
Please note that Kapow Primary Science lessons are designed to be 1 hour and 30 minutes long to reflect the requirements of a core subject.
Suggested prior learning
Forces and space: Forces and magnets
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: Models of our Solar System
Lesson 2: Our Solar System
Lesson 3: The Moon
Lesson 4: Day and night
Lesson 5: Time
Lesson 6: Satellites and space junk
Key skills
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – Science Y5: Forces and space: Earth and space
Aimed at pupils, three pages giving key facts and definitions from the unit ‘Earth and space’.
Vocabulary display – Science Y5: Forces and space: Earth and space
A display version of the vocabulary for the unit ‘Earth and space’.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Mathematics: Measurement.
Design and technology: Design; Make.
Geography: Locational knowledge.
British values: Mutual respect.