Virginia SOL 4.6.d

Science4th GradeEarth and Space Systems

The Standard

the relative size, position, age and makeup of Earth, the moon, and the sun.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare the Sun, Earth, and Moon by size, location, age, and materials. They explain that Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits Earth. They identify the Sun as hot hydrogen and helium, while Earth and the Moon are rocky bodies.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student ranks them by size as Sun, Earth, then Moon. The student draws the Moon orbiting Earth and Earth orbiting the Sun. The student explains that all three are billions of years old, with the Sun forming first.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the Sun and Moon are similar in size because they look similar in the sky. They may place the Moon between Earth and the Sun at all times. They may describe the Sun as burning rock or think Earth is much older than the Moon.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Rank the Sun, Earth, and Moon by size, draw their orbital paths, and label what each is made of. Circle the oldest body.

Lesson moves

Use a beach ball, basketball, and marble to model relative size, then have students arrange and label the three bodies.
Ask students to explain why the Sun and Moon can look similar in size even though the Sun is much larger.
Play a card-sorting relay using facts labeled size, position, age, or makeup for the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Observe the daytime Moon, then discuss how its changing position shows that it moves around Earth while Earth moves around the Sun.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.6.d, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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