The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the students to the Sun. They explore various aspects of the Sun including its composition, its interior workings, and its relationship to the Earth.

This is a lesson plan that will be utilized in the classroom in order for the students to learn about the sun. The lesson plan includes a song and dance, a book, lecture, and even a poster project presented by the students. The children will be graded based off of the children's understanding of the relationship between them and the Sun.

This article from Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle provides ideas on how school librarians can work with elementary teachers to teach about the Sun's impact on weather and climate. The author introduces the Standards for the 21st Century Learner, developed by the American Association of School Librarians. The author focuses on Standard 1, which calls for students to inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge through developing and refining questions, investigating answers, seeking divergent perspectives in information, and assessing whether the information found answers the questions posed. The free, online magazine draws its themes from the Seven Essential Principles of Climate Literacy, with each issue focusing on one of the seven principles.

This is the second lesson in the unit Weather Trackers (http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/unitplan/11468.htm). Students have the opportunity to work in groups to draw the rain cycle and make their own "movie" using a large cardboard milk carton and heavy white paper. Students are assessed on their ability to identify the pattern of the rain cycle and to sequence the events in order. Emphasis is placed on the Sun being the source of heat that drives the cycle.

Students will share their knowledge of the Earth and Sun as it pertains to day and night and generate questions about the causes of day and night using a KWL chart. They will then use a flashlight and model of the Earth to investigate how the rotation of the Earth affects night and day. Students will discuss their findings, adding what they learned to their charts, and diagram their understanding in their journals.

An original informational story about Sun's role in heating Earth's air, land, and water and Sun's connection to the seasons and weather. The story encourages young readers to observe Sun's impact on weather and the seasons and to make predictions about the weather. The story is available in separate versions for grades K-2 and 3-5 and as a downloadable, full-color pdf. The story is a feature of the free online magazine that focuses on the seven principles of climate literacy.

Students will be instructed to make an observation of a flower (tulip) given the one stipulation that they will only be allowed to detect the parts of the plant that are green. Through observation and discussion, students will be led to understand that only seeing parts of the flower leads to an incomplete and even inaccurate understanding of its structure.

Students will construct their own knowledge of the Sun emitting light above and below the visible spectrum by using UV beads to detect ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun, and, in a second experiment, will record the temperature readings of thermometers placed in the visible and infrared region of a spectrum produced using a prism. An optional M&M Filter Activity is included in the lesson to demonstrate how filter work.

Students will investigate relative size and distance by creating a basic model of our solar system.

In this activity, students will observe and describe what the sky looks like at different times, identify objects in the sky and recognize changes over time, and look for objects that are common to the daytime and nighttime sky.

Students will investigate shadows, using literature-based discussion as well as experiences with manipulating shadows.

Through this lesson, students will understand the relationship among the Sun, heat energy, evaporation, and condensation.

Solar power is clean, abundant, and becoming cheaper and more efficient all the time. Unfortunately, however, the sun isn't always there when you need it?like when it's cloudy, or it's raining, or it's nighttime. In this Science Update, you'll hear about an ambitious plan to get around that problem. Supplemental resources, including a background essay and discussion questions, are also provided.

In this activity, students estimate the energy output of the Sun (radiation) using a simple device and discover how much power sunlight provides to Earth; they learn that the Sun is the main source of energy on Earth. Students also compare the amount of solar radiation emitted at Mercury as to Earth. They also learn that sunlight and the electromagnetic spectrum are the main tools with which we study objects in the Solar System.

This site offers a series of programs that culminates with a celebration of the spring equinox. Join this journey of exploration and discovery in preparation for a total solar eclipse.

This article provides elementary school teachers with background knowledge about science concepts needed to understand the first of seven essential principles of climate literacy--the sun is the primary source of energy for our climate system. Graphs, diagrams, and oneline resources provide more background for the teacher. The article appears in a free online magazine that focuses on the seven essential princples of the climate sciences.

This book list contains children's books that have been screened for accuracy in depicting scientific concepts. Each book's content is briefly described and its cover pictured. The topics of the books support learning in Grades K-5 about the issue's theme. The list appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle, which focuses on the essential principles of climate literacy.

Students will first use CoSpace to create a virtual model of Newton's.  Students will learn how to use CoSpace to create 3D virtual models.  Next students will review concepts of rotation, revolution, seasons, tides, barycenter, precession, nutation by further exploring CoSpaces.  Students will learn to write code to enable the earth to rotate and then revolve around the sun.

Dancing Lights: Exploring the Aurora through Art and Writing is a science-in-literacy program about the aurora. Students in grades 3-5 write and illustrate their perceptions, ideas, and facts pertaining to auroral science. This short educator background primer was based upon interactions with teachers during Dancing Lights workshops and is meant as a quick guide to the science of the aurora.

This article provides lesson plans about natural resources and energy sources for elementary teachers.