Sun Up, Sun Down

Elizabeth Ward, Subject to Climate

Students learn about the role the sun plays in our daily lives and how solar energy can be used. Data is collected in the mini-lessons and demonstrations including observations with shadows, creating your own solar oven, and photosynthesis.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Teachers would benefit from reading through the three mini lessons ahead of time. The concepts of climate change and action could be incorporated.
This lesson describes what the sun does - provides heat & light. The sun creates energy we can use to heat our homes, cook food, and grow plants and it is a source of renewable energy. This lesson follows a natural process in learning, beginning with a story and including several experiments involving the sun (cooking food with a solar oven, growing plants, taking temperatures of various parts of the classroom, understanding shadows, and learning about Earth's movement through space). The lesson plan includes reading and correcting errors in the book (largest solar plant is now in India, not California.)
The activity is varied and includes plenty of different ways of exploring the sun! Lesson plan includes inquiry, investigation, and inspiration as steps to answer essential questions and has plenty of accompanying teaching materials. Students participate in whole-class and small-group discussions and exploration. Students explore topics through hands-on inquiry-based activities, share information, and encourage positive climate action.
The organization of the lesson plan is simple and effective for the age of students. The lesson is organized well and allows for learning progression by building on previous lessons and extending into more non-renewable vs renewable energy discussions. This program will be quick to set up and low cost. Each mini lesson is a stand alone lesson. They do not all need to be completed. If time permits, they could all be done in 200 minutes. The first mini lesson on solar cooking requires the most time prep, if the lesson is taught to K, it might be best to make the solar oven in advance. This will also effect the total amount of time to complete the lesson Teachers will need to have access to a computer to show slides and videos. Teachers will need access to the book: Sun up Sun Down by Gail Gibbons