The Sun Lesson Plan for 4th Grade Students

Topic: The Sun and its Effects

Objectives & Outcome

• Students will be able to describe the beneficial and harmful effects of the sun’s heat and light on living things.

Materials

• Images of plants and animals that live in different climates (e.g. tropical, arctic, desert)
• Bulb or lamp
• Sheet of paper
• Pencil

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever been in a place where it was very hot or very cold.
• Ask them to describe the weather and the plants and animals they saw in that environment.
• Introduce the topic of the lesson, the sun and its effects on living things.

Direct Instruction

• Show students pictures or videos of the sun and its different parts, such as the corona, photosphere, and solar flares.
• Discuss the different ways that the sun’s heat and light can affect living things, such as by providing energy for plants to grow and by causing weather patterns such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
• Use the handouts to provide more information on the beneficial and harmful effects of the sun.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in small groups to create a list of things that they can do to protect themselves and their families from the sun’s harmful effects, such as wearing sunscreen, staying in the shade, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.
• Have each group share their ideas with the class and discuss any additional measures that can be taken to protect against the harmful effects of the sun.

Independent Practice

• Have students create a poster or presentation to teach their classmates about the beneficial and harmful effects of the sun’s heat and light on living things. They should include information on how to protect against the harmful effects of the sun, such as wearing sunscreen, staying in the shade, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson, including the various ways that the sun’s heat and light can affect living things, and the importance of protecting against the harmful effects of the sun.
• Ask students to share one thing they learned about the sun during the lesson.

Assessment:

• Observe students during the independent practice activity, and evaluate their ability to accurately and thoroughly research and report on one living thing that is affected by the sun.
• Evaluate students' class presentations on the sunflower and the advantage and disadvantage of the sunflower, for understanding of the topic.
• Administer a brief quiz at the end of the lesson to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the material.