Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface Video Lesson

About This Video

Curriculum-aligned Kindergarten Science lesson video for Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface. Use it for classroom preview, instruction support, or home review.

This watch page is dedicated to the video. For the complete text lesson plan, activities, standards alignment, and answer guides, use the companion lesson page: Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface lesson plan.

Video Learning Notes

In this lesson, students learned that sunlight carries energy that warms Earth's surface. Different materials like sand, soil, rocks, and water absorb sunlight differently, causing them to warm at different rates. Through safe investigations using tools like thermometers and flashlights, students made observations, recorded data, and developed explanations about how sunlight affects Earth's surface. They also explored how light can be blocked to create shadows, which are cooler areas. This understanding helps students see cause-and-effect relationships in nature and prepares them for further study of weather and climate.

Learning Goals

• Make observations to determine how sunlight changes the temperature or appearance of Earth's surface materials like sand, soil, rocks, and water.
• Ask questions and define problems based on observations related to sunlight and Earth's surface.
• Use simple tools and scientific practices to conduct safe investigations about sunlight's effect.
• Collect and record observations and measurements as evidence using pictures, words, or simple graphs.
• Develop and communicate explanations about how sunlight warms Earth's surface based on collected data.

Curriculum Context

Grade: Kindergarten

Subject: Science

Curriculum: TEKS + NGSS