The Warmth of the Sun Lesson Plan
Tiffany Mihela and Ashley Chiado 11-3-11
Description of GLCE: E.ES.01.11 Identify the sun as the most important source of heat which warms
the land, air, and water of the Earth
Grade Level: First
Lesson Overview:
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Students will be able to identify the sun as being the earth’s main source of heat.
Students will be able to explain the effects on plants, animals, and humans if the sun did not
exist.
Students will be able to recognize that objects in sunlight are warmer than objects in shaded
areas.
Materials:
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Two open containers (per group of students)
Soil
Warmth Chart (copy attached)
Quiz (copy attached)
Whiteboard
**Note: It is important to teach this lesson on a warm, sunny day**
To prepare: Several hours before the lesson, place containers of soil in the sun and containers of soil in
the shade outside.
Phase One: Engage
To begin the lesson, grab the students’ attention by getting them interested in the topic. Ask them
questions about the sun to learn more about their knowledge on the topic as well as to encourage class
discussion. Showing a large picture of the sun may be helpful for this part of the lesson. Some example
questions include: What is the sun? What does it do? Because these students are so young, we do not
want to bombard them with questions but rather get the students thinking about the topic.
Phase Two: Explore
As a class, go outside, to start this activity have students brainstorm about how they think the soil in the
sunlight will differ in temperature from the soil in the shade. The students’ thoughts and ideas can be
recorded and referred to after the activity is complete. Have each student individually feel the soil in the
container in the sun and then the soil in the container placed in the shade, and record their observations
on their warmth charts. Instruct the students to circle either warm or cool on their charts as an
indication of the temperature of the soil. Once every student has had a chance to feel both containers of
soil and you are back in the classroom hold a class discussion about the students initial perceptions of
what the soil temperatures would be and then what they discovered.
Phase Three: Explain
Throughout this phase of the lesson, information will be provided to the students explaining the role
and importance of the sun. After students have completed their soil activity, provide them with
information on why the temperatures differed stating that the soil in the sun was warmer because it
received the sun’s rays and the soil in the shade was cooler because it did not receive the rays of the
sun. Students will be informed that the sun is the main source of heat on earth. The sun gives off a type
of heat called radiation that keeps the earth warm. To make it easier for students to understand we can
relate it to when you’re outside on a sunny day; when you are in the sun you feel much hotter and when
you go in the shade you feel much cooler.
Phase Four: Elaborate
Getting students to a higher level of thinking is the most important aspect of this phase of the lesson. A
question such as, “what if the sun did not exist?” can be asked to get students to think outside the box.
Record the students’ responses on the board and hold a class discussion on how big of an impact the
absence of the sun would have on our planet, i.e. how this would affect plants, animals, and even
humans.
Phase Five: Evaluate
The students should be evaluated by the accuracy of the true or false quiz that goes along with the
lesson. When completing the quiz students should be instructed to circle a “T” for true answers and an
“F” for false answers. Completion of the soil activity itself, participating in class discussions, and
accurately completing the worksheet and quiz will result in a satisfactory grade for the students.
WARMTH CHART
NAME:______________________________________
SOIL OUTSIDE IN THE SUN (circle one)
WARM
COOL
SOIL OUTSIDE IN THE SHADE (circle one)
WARM
COOL
QUIZ
Name:_____________________
1) The Sun is the main source of warmth for the earth: T or F
2) Land, Water, and Air are warmed by the Sun: T or F
3) The Moon heats the earth. T or F
4) It is warmer in the sun, than in the shade: T or F