Week 8: Earth in Space
Lesson Plan for JSS One (Age 11)
Subject: Basic Science
Class: JSS 1
Week of the Second Term: 8th Week
Topic: Earth in Space
Sub-Topic: Overview of the Solar System, Earth’s Rotation and Revolution, Eclipses and Seasons
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify the planets in the solar system and their characteristics.
- Explain the concepts of Earth’s rotation and revolution.
- Discuss the causes of eclipses and the changing seasons.
Entry Behaviour
Students should have a general awareness of celestial bodies.
Instructional Materials
- Basic Science textbook (Bajah et al.)
- Solar system models
- Videos illustrating rotation and revolution
Reference Materials
Bajah, S. T., Ango, M. L., Ryan, J. O., Inyang, N. E. U., Samuel, P. S., Okebukola, P. A. O., Akezuilo, E. O., & Otuka, J. O. E. (2014). Basic Science for Junior Secondary School 1 Textbook (BEC Edition). University Press PLC. Lagos.
Content
Earth in Space
Earth is just one planet in a vast solar system filled with incredible wonders. Let’s take a closer look at our solar system, how Earth moves, and the phenomena we experience like eclipses and seasons.
Overview of the Solar System
The solar system is a collection of celestial bodies that orbit around the Sun, which is a star. Here are some key components:
- The Sun: The Sun is at the center of our solar system. It is a massive ball of hot gases that provides light and heat to the planets, making life on Earth possible.
- Planets: There are eight major planets in our solar system, which are divided into two groups:
- Terrestrial Planets: These are rocky planets, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They have solid surfaces.
- Gas Giants: These are larger planets made mostly of gases, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They do not have solid surfaces like the terrestrial planets.
- Dwarf Planets: Pluto is one of the most famous dwarf planets. These are smaller than the main planets and don’t clear their orbits of other debris.
- Moons: Many planets have natural satellites, or moons, that orbit them. Earth has one moon, while other planets, like Jupiter, have many.
- Asteroids and Comets: The solar system also contains many small bodies, such as asteroids (mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter) and comets (made of ice and dust, often with bright tails when close to the Sun).
Earth’s Rotation and Revolution
- Rotation: Earth spins around its axis, an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. This rotation takes about 24 hours to complete and causes day and night. When one side of Earth faces the Sun, it experiences daylight, while the other side is in darkness.
- Revolution: Earth travels around the Sun in a path called an orbit. This revolution takes about 365.25 days to complete, which is one year. As Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of its axis causes the changing seasons.
Eclipses and Seasons
- Eclipses: An eclipse occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another celestial body. There are two main types of eclipses:
- Solar Eclipse: This happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s light partially or completely for a short time. It can only occur during a new moon.
- Lunar Eclipse: This happens when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. It can only occur during a full moon.
- Seasons: Earth experiences four seasons—spring, summer, autumn (or fall), and winter—because of its tilted axis. Here’s how it works:
- Summer: When the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, the northern hemisphere experiences summer with longer days and warmer temperatures.
- Winter: When the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, the northern hemisphere experiences winter with shorter days and colder temperatures.
- Spring and Autumn: These seasons occur when neither pole is tilted toward or away from the Sun, resulting in roughly equal day and night lengths.
