Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 5

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Identify and describe the different phases of the Moon.
• Explain how the Moon orbits the Earth.
• Describe the relationship between the Earth's tilt and the seasons.
• Explain the cause of summer and winter in South Africa.
• Understand why the Southern and Northern Hemispheres have opposite seasons.

Lesson summary

This week, we're diving into the fascinating world of our Moon and how it influences the seasons we experience here in South Africa. Understanding the Moon's phases and its relationship to Earth helps us appreciate the predictability of lunar cycles, which have been important for timekeeping and even agriculture for generations. We'll also explore why we have seasons and how the Earth's tilt plays a crucial role in determining the weather we experience at different times of the year. This is important because understanding these patterns can help us plan for farming, predict weather patterns, and better understand our place in the solar system.

Lesson notes

The Moon and its Phases: The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, meaning it orbits around our planet. The Moon doesn't produce its own light; instead, it reflects sunlight. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different amounts of the sunlit portion, which creates the phases of the Moon. These phases follow a cycle that takes approximately 29.5 days to complete.

Here are the main phases of the Moon: New Moon: The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, so we can't see it.

Waxing Crescent: A thin sliver of the Moon becomes visible, growing larger each night. "Waxing" means growing.

First Quarter: We see half of the Moon's face lit up.

Waxing Gibbous: More than half of the Moon is visible, continuing to grow.

Full Moon: The entire face of the Moon is lit up.

Waning Gibbous: The lit portion of the Moon starts to shrink. "Waning" means shrinking.

Third Quarter: We see half of the Moon's face lit up, but the opposite half from the First Quarter.

Waning Crescent: A thin sliver of the Moon is visible, shrinking each night until it disappears at the New Moon. Think of it like shining a torch (the Sun) on a ball (the Moon) while you look at it from different angles (Earth). Depending on your angle, you'll see different amounts of the ball lit up.

The Earth's Orbit and Seasons: The Earth orbits the Sun in an elliptical (oval-shaped) path. While the distance from the Sun does change slightly throughout the year, this is not what causes the seasons. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees. This tilt means that different parts of the Earth receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, receiving less direct sunlight and experiencing winter. Six months later, the Earth is on the opposite side of its orbit. Now, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, experiencing summer, while the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away, experiencing winter. During spring and autumn (also known as the equinoxes), neither hemisphere is tilted significantly towards or away from the Sun, so both experience roughly equal amounts of daylight.

Seasons in South Africa: Because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, our seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g., Europe and North America). Summer (December, January, February): The Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, resulting in longer days, warmer temperatures, and more direct sunlight. Many families go on holiday to the beach during this time because of the warm weather. Autumn/Fall (March, April, May): The Earth is transitioning, and the angle of sunlight is decreasing. Temperatures start to cool, and days get shorter. Deciduous trees lose their leaves. Winter (June, July, August): The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, resulting in shorter days, cooler temperatures, and less direct sunlight. People often wear warmer clothes like jackets and scarves. Spring (September, October, November): The Earth is transitioning again, and the angle of sunlight is increasing. Temperatures start to warm up, and days get longer. Flowers start to bloom. Imagine holding a globe and tilting it towards a lamp (the Sun). The part of the globe tilted closer to the lamp will receive more light and warmth, simulating summer. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Identify the phase of the Moon when we see the entire face of the Moon lit up.

Solution: The phase of the Moon when we see the entire face lit up is the Full Moon. This happens when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon.

Question 2: Explain why South Africa experiences winter in July.

Solution: South Africa experiences winter in July because the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun at this time of year. This means we receive less direct sunlight, resulting in shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Question 3: If the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer, what season is the Southern Hemisphere experiencing?

Solution: If the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer, the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing winter. The Earth's tilt causes opposite seasons in the two hemispheres.

Question 4: Name the phase of the moon when the moon is between the earth and the sun.

Solution: New Moon. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Draw and label the eight phases of the Moon. Explain in your own words why the Moon appears to change shape throughout the month. Describe how the length of daylight hours changes from summer to winter in South Africa. Why is it important for South African farmers to understand the seasons? Give specific examples. If it is Spring in South Africa, what season is it in England? Explain your reasoning.