**Year 7 Science Lesson Plan: Earth and Space**
**Lesson Duration:** 60 minutes
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**Learning Objectives:**
1. Understand the structure of the solar system, including the Sun, planets, and moons.
2. Describe the movements of Earth and how they affect day and night.
3. Explain the concept of gravity and how it holds the solar system together.
4. Identify various characteristics of different planets within our solar system.
**National Curriculum Links:**
- Recognize the small part played by the Earth in the vast universe.
- Understand the Earth’s rotation to explain day and night and the apparent movement of the sun across the sky.
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**Preparation and Resources:**
- Interactive whiteboard or projector
- A model or diagram of the solar system
- Worksheets on Earth and Space
- Videos or animations showing the solar system and gravitational pull
- Computer or tablet access for any online resources
- Flashcards with planets, moons, and other celestial bodies
- Globe and torch for demonstrating day and night
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**Lesson Structure:**
**Starter (10 minutes):**
1. **Engage activity**: Show a short video clip (2-3 minutes) of the solar system to grab students' attention and stimulate curiosity.
2. **Discussion**: Prompt an open discussion with questions like:
- What do you see in the video?
- How many planets can you name?
- Does anyone know why we experience day and night?
**Main Activity (40 minutes):**
1. **Presentation/Explanation (10 minutes):**
- Use the interactive whiteboard to present a diagram of the solar system.
- Explain the position and order of the planets from the Sun.
- Introduce key terms like orbit, rotation, and revolution.
2. **Hands-on Activity (15 minutes):**
- Divide the students into small groups.
- Provide each group with flashcards featuring different planets and moons.
- Ask them to arrange the cards in the correct order from the Sun and discuss the characteristics of each planet.
- Groups can use the globe and torch to simulate how Earth's rotation causes day and night.
3. **Video/Animation (5 minutes):**
- Show an animation demonstrating the gravitational pull of the Sun and how it keeps planets in orbit.
- Explain the concept of gravity in simple terms.
4. **Worksheet Activity (10 minutes):**
- Distribute worksheets that ask students to label a diagram of the solar system, explain the day and night cycle, and answer questions about gravity.
**Plenary (10 minutes):**
1. **Review and Consolidate:**
- Recap key points from the lesson using a Q&A session. Questions can include:
- What keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun?
- Why do we have day and night?
- Name the planets in our solar system.
2. **Extension Activity:**
- For those who finish early or need a challenge, pose additional questions or provide further reading on topics such as the phases of the moon or the seasons.
3. **Exit Ticket:**
- Ask students to write one thing they learned today and one question they still have about Earth and Space. Collect these as they leave to inform future lessons.
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**Assessment:**
- Observation during group work and activities.
- Evaluation of completed worksheets.
- Responses during the plenary Q&A and exit tickets.
**Differentiation:**
- Provide extra support and guidance for students who require it, including simplified explanations and one-on-one assistance.
- Offer more challenging tasks and questions for advanced learners.
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**Homework:**
- Assign students to watch a documentary or read an article about a specific planet and write a short paragraph about what they learned.