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Why does it get cold in winter?

Why does it get cold in winter?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
Video trouble?
Video trouble?
Video trouble?
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Step
01/09
To solve a mystery, you need to look for clues. Let’s start by looking
at the two cars. Discuss:
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Step
02/09
Here’s what we noticed. Noah’s car is in the sun and Leo’s car is in the
shade. Discuss:
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Step
03/09
Here’s what we think. Sunlight warms things up. Noah’s car got hot
because it was in the sun. Leo’s car stayed cool because it was in the
shade. Discuss:
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Step
04/09
To find out if Leo’s car would get hot in the sun, Leo and Noah traded
parking places. Now Leo’s car is in the sun. Discuss:
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Step
05/09
Leo and Noah decided to put marshmallows and chocolate in both
cars. Then they could compare what happened in the sun and in the
shade. Discuss:
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Step
06/09
After one hour, Noah and Leo checked the car in the sun. To see if the
marshmallow had melted, they tried the Squish Test. Noah squeezed
the marshmallow to see if it would squish. Watch this!
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Step
07/09
Then Noah and Leo checked the car in the shade. Once again, they
tried the Squish Test. Watch this!
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Step
08/09
The marshmallow from the hot car made a treat that’s called a
s’more. Usually, people roast marshmallows in the fire to make
s’mores. Noah and Leo have invented a new way to make s’mores!
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Step
09/09
You solved the melty mystery! The Sun heats things up and warms
the Earth. It also warms up marshmallows! Have fun and stay curious!
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Slide Image
Slide Image

Sun


1 of 11

the large ball of light in the sky during the day
Slide Image

sunlight


2 of 11

light from the Sun
Slide Image

warm


4 of 11

to make something hotter
Slide Image

melt


5 of 11

when a solid turns into a liquid, such as when ice melts into water
Slide Image

summer


6 of 11

one of the four seasons, the warmest season in some places
Slide Image

winter


7 of 11

one of the four seasons, the coldest season in some places
Slide Image

weather


8 of 11

what the air is like at a particular time and place

snow


9 of 11

solid water that falls from the sky when it's very cold outside
Video trouble?
Slide Image

compare


10 of 11

to notice what is similar and what is different between things
Slide Image

investigate


11 of 11

to figure out the answer to a question or to understand how something works
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students observe the path of the Sun in the summer and in the winter and realize that light from the Sun keeps the Earth warm. In the activity, Mysterious Melting Marshmallows, students solve a mystery: what made the marshmallows melt? (The answer, of course, is the heat of the Sun.)
Preview activity
Prep Instructions

This activity does not require supplies.

In this activity, students solve a mystery: Why do marshmallows and chocolate melt in one car, but not in another car parked nearby? Be prepared to help your students think and talk about what they notice in the video.

In a series of steps, students consider the problem and think about experiments that will help them solve the mystery. After watching the results of some experiments, students realize that the heat of the Sun melted the marshmallows. (If you want to keep your car cool, park in the shade!)

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Extend this lesson

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

Activity

Activity

Make Solar S'mores!

On a hot sunny day, you can make s’mores on your car’s dashboard. Park in the sun, making sure sunlight is shining on the dashboard. Close the windows.

Put the s’mores together and place them on a cookie sheet or a black dish. (Black because dark colors absorb more heat from the sun than light ones.) To keep things tidier, you can wrap each s’more in aluminum foil.

Leave them in the car for at least half an hour. If they aren’t done, leave them a little longer. Then enjoy!

Transcripts

Credits
 
Sunlight Tx Lesson 3: Why does it get cold in winter?

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