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How can the Sun tell you the season?
Space Patterns Unit | Lesson 1 of 4
Back > Share

How can the Sun tell you the season?

Space Patterns Unit | Lesson 1 of 4
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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PHOTO #1 OF 5
What season is this? Come up with more than one reason for your answer. *Hint:* Pay attention to the time on the photo.

Kid on bike

DISCUSS AS A CLASS:

What season do you think this is? Why?

Here's what we think:

PHOTO #2 OF 5
What season is this? Come up with more than one reason for your answer. *Hint:* Does the mist give you a clue about the temperature?

Pumpkins

DISCUSS AS A CLASS:

What season do you think this is? Why?

Here's what we think:

PHOTO #3 OF 5
What season is this? Come up with more than one reason for your answer. *Hint:* Pay attention to the time on the photo.

SunsetWinter

DISCUSS AS A CLASS:

What season do you think this is? Why?

Here's what we think:

PHOTO #4 OF 5
What season is this? Come up with more than one reason for your answer. *Hint:* Pay attention to the time on the photo.

Flower

DISCUSS AS A CLASS:

What season do you think this is? Why?

Here's what we think:

PHOTO #5 OF 5
CHALLENGE: What season is this? Do you have any ideas? Take a look at the time and the shadow. (If you can't figure it out, don't worry--watch the next video to get a clue!)

Bench

Video trouble?

Discuss: What changes did you see in the daytime sky over the course of the four seasons?

Here's what we saw...

Video trouble?

Discuss: Here’s the bench you saw earlier. Now can you guess what season this photo was taken? Hint: Think about the time & the shadow.

Bench

See what we think...

Video trouble?

PHOTO #6 OF 8: What season is it? Why do you think that?

Dog

See what we think...

PHOTO #7 OF 8: What season is it? Why do you think that?

Shadows

See what we think...

PHOTO #8 OF 8: What season is it? Why do you think that?

Sunsets

See what we think...

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Extra Activity: Sky Dome, Part 2

SkyDome1

SkyDome2

Add the Sun's summer path and winter path to the Sky Dome that you made from instructions in Mystery 1 Extras.

Slide Image
Slide Image

season


1 of 1

a time of year with specific weather that repeats every year

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Other
sunsent by AdinaVoicu / cropped
Credits

Featured Reviews

“I love that the lesson is done for me, and it's engaging. The kids love the videos!”
· Valerie · Teacher
“I loved the scaffolding included with the photos. The kids really learned about how the sun changes position and how a shadow and time of day can help them determine the seasons”
· Melissa · Teacher
“I love the assessments for each lesson. The kids really grasped the Sun's positioning during the different season.”
· Steven · Teacher
“My students were collaborating with one another and sharing their ideas. It was great to see them work so well as a team! ”
· Jennifer · Teacher
“This lab really had students using observation to make a hypothesis and and support it with evidence!”
· Debra · Teacher
“Very good explanation for children to understand and take note of what actually happens to the Sun at each Season.”
· Claire · Homeschooler
“This is a fun, discussion-oriented lesson that helped my students understand the way the sun's height in the sky changes over time, affecting us here on earth. ”
· Erin · Teacher
“The students were super engaged and excited to share their thoughts!”
· Samantha · Teacher
“My students liked the challenge pictures. It made for great discussion for what we see right now in our area. It also allowed for discussion on daylight savings time.”
· Candace · Teacher
“Students loved looking for the clues. We are focusing on finding the evidence in ELA and this tied in perfectly.”
· Tanya · Teacher
“Very hands on, and a clear, easy to do model. Loved to videos, and sequential pics of the moon over 2 weeks.”
· Natalie · Teacher
“Students used the visuals to describe the seasons. Shadows and the times of day helped illustrate their educated guesses on which season it would be allowing them to investigate.”
· Brian · Teacher
“I keep learning along with my students. Thanks for making me a better teacher!!”
· Cheryl · Teacher
“Not having to prepare and deal with lots of supplies was nice. I had my students write down their thoughts and evidence in their notebooks.”
· Jasmine · Teacher
“Love that it was a quicker, nothing to print, based on discussions, type of lab. Different from the first few. The kids loved the multiple photos to practice on.”
· Erin · Teacher
“Thinking about what season based on different shadows was such a great challenge!”
· Kathleen · Teacher
“My students got very enthusiastic about trying to guess which season the picture was taken in. It provided a valuable opportunity for me to emphasize the importance of having strong reasons for what you think to be true.”
· Alexander · Teacher
“Students really enjoyed thinking about the signs and clues. A great critical thinking lesson.”
· Glenn · Teacher
“Great lesson! The kids are totally engaged. They continue to give me the feeling of, "I can't wait for the next Mystery Science lesson."”
· Anthony · Teacher
“The students were very interested in the activity. The activity started great classroom conversation.”
· Delores · Teacher
“Students loved guessing the seasons and picked up quickly on the changes in shadows!”
· Anthony · Teacher
“Kids loved guessing the seasons and it really helped them understand the shorter days of the year that we're experiencing. ”
· Lacy · Teacher
“I really liked the video showing how the sun is at a different height in the sky during different seasons. The students really understood how looking at shadows and the time could help them figure out what season it was.”
· Margaret · Teacher
“My students loved the game! Every time they guessed the correct season they cheered and danced. They walk away with an understanding of the suns position in the sky during different seasons. ”
· Alexandria · Teacher
“I loved the exploration photos. It was the most participation I have had from my class all year.”
· Jenni · Teacher
“I liked how the kids had to really think and give reasons why they thought it was that season. ”
· Andrea · Teacher
“The students loved having a discussion about the photos. We had an ah ha about the shadow and the bench. We had to get out a flashlight to finally decide. Thanks! ”
· Marlene · Teacher
“ The kids loved that they had to play detective, it really forced them to think about what they were learning and apply it.”
· Rebecca · Homeschooler
“The videos of the changing sun position are great. The B & W photos where they have to guess the season based on the shadow and the time work well.”
· Sheryl · Teacher
“Wonderful! Really neat for the kids to learn about the time of day/year and then investigate what time of day/year the photos were taken. Sparked great discussions!!”
· Robin · Teacher
“I love the video demonstrations! They are so helpful in explaining things to kids that I can't explain without models. ”
· Michele · Teacher
“Students were engaged in the activity portion. The simple activity definitely helped the students understand the concept as to why the moon has phases.”
· Marie · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 4

Space Patterns

Seasonal Changes & Shadow Length

5-ESS1-2

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students discover how the Sun’s path changes with the seasons. In the visual activity, Guess the Season, students figure out the season of the year by studying a photo. Students come to realize that they can use the time of day and length of shadows to figure out the season in each photo.
Preview activity
Prep Instructions

This activity does not require supplies.

Review Photos and Answers Before Class

Each photo has an obvious clue related to the season — like ripe pumpkins for autumn or snow for winter. Students will recognize those clues immediately.

But each photo also includes the time it was taken. Using the time and the Sun’s position, students can figure out the season using astronomical clues — like the length of the day (long in summer, short in winter) or the time of sunrise (early in summer, late in winter).

In the class discussion that follows each photo, you may need to prompt students to notice the time on the photo and think about what the time says about the season. Reviewing the questions and answers before class will help you prepare to facilitate class discussion.

Exploration

20 mins

Hands-On Activity

25 mins

Grade 4

Space Patterns

Seasonal Changes & Shadow Length

5-ESS1-2

Slow internet or video problems?
Credits
 
Space Patterns Tx Lesson 1: How can the Sun tell you the season?

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