Play

Part 1 - Step by Step

1. InstructInstruct groups that they will be using their Day/Night with Switch build to model the movement of the Earth. They will record their observations on a Blueprint Worksheet. Watch the animation below to see an example of the Switch being used to spin the Earth.
   Video file
2. ModelModel how the observations will work.
   • Using a sticker or marker, instruct each group to add a dot on the Earth. This represents themselves on the planet Earth.

   

   • Model for students how to turn the Switch on in the '+' direction so that the Motor starts spinning.

   

   • Students should observe the Earth rotating on the Motor. Model for students how to record their observations using a Blueprint Worksheet. Share an example of a sketch and sentence starters for their observation notes.

   

3. FacilitateFacilitate students observations of the rotation of the Earth by sharing these sentence starters.
   • When I turn my Switch on in the '+' direction, I see __________________. 
   • When the Earth is spinning, I see the Sun __________________. 
   • When the Earth is spinning, I see my dot __________________. 

   Facilitate students thinking about their observations by asking questions like: 

   • What do you notice about the tilt of the Earth?
   • How is your dot moving when the Earth moves?
   • What object is moving when you turn the Switch on?
4. RemindRemind groups that they may have different observations and that is okay!

   Be sure all members of the group get a chance to make an observation and record it on the Blueprint Worksheet.

5. AskAsk groups how they are deciding what observations to record.
   • Are they letting all group members make individual observations and writing them down one at a time? 
   • Are they sharing many ideas at once and deciding as a group which observations to record?
   • What can they do to make sure that everyone's observations are heard?

Mid-Play Break & Group Discussion

As soon as every group has made at least three observations and recorded them, come together for a brief conversation.

Ask students what they noticed about the Sun? Was it moving? Or was the Earth moving? 

Share with the students that the Earth was rotating around its axis. Rotating is how the Earth moves around that center point made by the Plain Shaft. That is called the axis. The Earth rotates around the axis so part of the Earth is always facing the Sun and part of the Earth is always facing away from the Sun. Ask students the following questions: 

• If you were the dot on the Earth, when would you be able to see the Sun? When would you not be able to see the Sun?
• What do you think of when you think of daytime? When do you think it is daytime for the dot on the Earth?

Part 2 - Step by Step

1. InstructInstruct students that they are going to use their Day/Night with Switch build to demonstrate what causes the day and night cycle on Earth. Watch the animation below to see an example of the Switch being used to spin the Earth.
   Video file

    

2. ModelModel using the Day/Night with Switch build to explore the day and night cycle.
   • Demonstrate how to push the Switch forward, stopping when the dot is facing 180 degrees away from the Sun part of the model.
   • Share an example of a sketch, and sentence starters for their observation/prediction notes. 

   

   • Then, Demonstrate how to push the Switch forward, stopping when the dot is facing directly towards the Sun part of the model.
   • Share an example of a sketch for the model in this new position, and sentence starters for their observation/prediction notes. 
     • The sentence starters can serve as scaffolding for students who need it, to help them understand how to write their observations and predictions without doing the thinking for them. One possible sentence starter option could be: When my sticker faces away from the sun, I would see _______________________. Therefore, It would be day/night on my part of the Earth. 

   

3. FacilitateFacilitate conversations about using the Switch to rotate the Earth to a certain position. The Switch causes the shaft in the Earth to rotate quickly, so they may have to try more than once to stop it at the correct position
   • Ask questions about the model to help students form an understanding of the position of the Earth’s rotation in relation to the Sun, such as:
     • What do you think you would see when your dot is in a particular position?
     • What time of day might it be where you are?

    

4. RemindRemind students that if they are having trouble understanding the position of the Earth's rotation when it is day, and when it is night, that physically acting out the pattern may be helpful. Help them to do this by having them use the front of the classroom as the sun, and ask them to stand facing the direction they think their dot would face during the night. Then have the do the same for the day position.
5. AskAsk students if they encountered any frustrating moments as they worked through the activity.
   • When they were sketching, was it difficult to balance the need to draw accurately and the need to draw quickly?
   • Did they have to try more than one time to stop the Earth's rotation at an exact point with the Switch?
   • What strategies did they use to reduce their frustration?
   • And, how did they help others when they faced obstacles?