1-ESS1-2
The standard
Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Students need to notice that daylight changes across the year. They compare seasons in simple terms, like “winter has less daylight than spring” or “fall days get shorter.” They do not need exact sunrise times or hours.
Mastery looks like using repeated observations, class charts, and seasonal photos to explain the pattern. Students may think weather causes daylight changes, or that every day in a season is the same length. Keep the focus on relative daylight, not temperature or clocks.
Ways to teach it
- Hands-on activity: Add a daily sun-up or dark-out sticker to a class calendar for two weeks in winter and two weeks in spring.
- Prompt: Look at these two playground photos, one after school in winter and one in spring, what do you notice about the light?
- Quick assessment: Show winter, spring, and fall daylight picture cards, then have students order them from least daylight to most daylight.
- Real-world connection: Ask students to compare whether they leave for school or eat dinner in daylight during different parts of the year.
Plan a lesson for 1-ESS1-2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- K-ESS2-1
Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
- K-PS3-1
Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth's surface.
- 5-ESS1-2
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- 1-ESS1-1
Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.