In this lesson, students will know the appearance of the moon changes in a specific pattern and repeat this sequence over the course of approximately 28 days. In addition, discuss that Earth’s rotation causes one side of planet Earth to receive light rays from the sun. Earth to receive light rays from the sun. This phenomenon is called day. (Understand, Key Concept 2). Discuss that Earth’s rotation causes one side of planet Earth not to receive light rays from the sun. This phenomenon causes darkness which is called night. Lesson integrates computer science using Bee-Bots

This parent guide supports parents in helping their child at home with the 4th grade Science content.

This resource accompanies our Rethink 4th Grade Science course. It includes ideas for use, ways to support exceptional children, ways to extend learning, digital resources and tools, tips for supporting English Language Learners and students with visual and hearing impairments. There are also ideas for offline learning. 

In this lesson, students create clocks, explore the concept of rotation, and participate in a classroom demonstration of the Earth and the Sun during the night and day. Students will also create a book about day and night. A reproducible copy of the book and a teacher checklist are included.

Students use a set of simple materials to observe how the Earth's rotation causes light and dark cycles.

Students make a 3 dimensional model of the Earth and the Moon to discover that the Moon does rotate in the same amount of time it takes to make one orbit. The "dark side of the Moon" myth is debunked and scientific background information is provided along with links to other resources about the Moon.

Students illustrate the Native American story of Ant and Bear and their dances for day and night as well as the science story of why we have day and night cycles.

In this lesson, students will be able to describe the movement of Earth and the moon and the apparent movement of other bodies through the sky. Students will learn about what causes day and night with several activities.

This online module focuses on astronomy: changes in the day and night sky, orbits of the Sun, mooon, and Earth, and the phases of the moon.

With this resource, students will learn how the movement of the earth makes day and night time.

In this lesson, students observe how the Earth spins on its axis to give us night and day by participating in hands-on activities. The first activity takes place outside and help students understand the distance the Earth is from the Sun. The second activity is indoors and uses a globe to model the way the Earth spins on its axis to show day and night.

Students will apply math concepts related to measuring angles to diagram the Earth’s rotation throughout a 24-hour period. This task allows for multiple entry points in that students can either use their knowledge of angle measures (e.g., the Earth would rotate 180° by noon) or knowledge of fractions (e.g., 1/2 of a complete rotation would occur by noon) to begin grappling with the task. By creating diagrams, students will also develop an understanding of using tools to measure angles, as well as apply the concept that angle measures are additive (e.g., I figured out that the Earth rotates 15° each hour. Therefore, I realize that the earth rotates 45° in three hours). This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

In this lesson, students will compare and contrast day and night of their place on earth, to another location. Students will conduct a short research project that builds knowledge through investigation of different aspects of day and night in other locations on earth with a focus on Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Alaska. This lesson was developed by Lisa Hiatt as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

In this lesson, students will reflect on prior knowledge about the causes of day and night using a Know, Want to Know, Learned (KWL) chart. Students will also engage in watching a video explaining day to night to identify the difference of day and night and why they happen. This lesson was developed by Lisa Hiatt as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

In this lesson, students will review what they know about how day and night happen through a demonstration by the teacher. Students will act out the process of day and night while the Earth is tilted and rotating on its axis by having the sun shine on one side of the earth. This lesson was developed by Lisa Hiatt as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

This kinesthetic activity will demonstrate concepts like rotation and orbit, clarify movement and direction, and help students understand why earthlings see different things in the sky.

This interactive gives you a chance to view the Moon from an unusual place - standing on the ground in the northern hemisphere, looking south - and, simultaneously, from an unusual place - in space, far above the North Pole of the Earth.

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 4th Grade Science. 

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 4th Grade Science.

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.