How Can We Predict When The Sky Will Be Dark?
How Can We Predict When the Sky Will Be Dark? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of grade 1 earth and space science and physical science standards. In this module, students:
- Use observations of real and photographed objects as evidence to explain that a girl can see objects outside because light from the Sun is shining on them.
- Use sunrise and sunset data as well as data from text to identify times of the year when the sky will be dark.
- Explain observed phenomena of the Sun and the Moon using observations of the Sun and Moon’s position in the sky.
- Use a model Moon to explain that the Moon appears to change shape because we see different amounts of the part with light shining on it.
- Use observations to describe the effect of a light source on the visibility of objects to solve the problem of kids having to walk to school in the dark.
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Family Letter
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Before starting How Can We Predict When the Sky Will Be Dark?, share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Ada Asks Introduction (1:17 minutes)
This video introduces the phenomenon of Ada having trouble seeing her toys outside at some times compared to other times. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
Ada’s Toy Observations
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This file shows an image of Ada’s toys when she can see them well and images of Ada’s toys when she has trouble seeing them.
Festivals of Light
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This file show festivals from across the world that celebrate with lights.
Ukraine, Cameroon, and Lebanon Map
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This world map shows the locations of Ukraine, Cameroon, and Lebanon.
Sunset (0:20 minutes)
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This video shows the Sun setting.
Sunrise and Sunset
https://sunrise-sunset.org
This website provides the sunrise and sunset times for a location provided by the user.
Sunset in Ada’s Town
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This file shows the time of sunset in Ada’s town in the late summer, fall, and early winter.
City Sunset (0:40)
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This video shows the Sun setting in Tokyo.
Aerial View of the National Mall
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This file shows an aerial view of the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Sunlight on the National Mall
https://ssec.si.edu/sunlight-national-mall
This simulation shows 360-degree photos taken on the National Mall at five different times of one day in the winter, spring, summer, and fall. Sunlight on the National Mall is available as a website for use on computers. Download the application for use on tablets or mobile devices.
Sun in the Sky in Ada’s Town
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This file is a place to record the Sun’s path in the sky on each day that Ada observes her toys.
Young Sunflower (0:23 minutes)
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This time-lapse video shows a young sunflower tracking the Sun in the day and turning to face east in the night.
Ada Asks Moon (1:35 minutes)
This video introduces the phenomenon of the Moon appearing as different shapes and in different parts of the sky. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
Ada’s Moon Observations
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This file shows the three observations of the Moon made by Ada.
Moon Model Observations
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This file shows images of the Moon model and images of the real Moon.
Full Moon Motion (1:00 minutes)
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This video shows a model of the Moon and Sun’s motion over a 48-hour period during the full moon part of the Moon’s cycle.
Quarter Moon Motion (1:00 minutes)
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This video shows a model of the Moon and Sun’s motion over a 48-hour period during the quarter moon part of the Moon’s cycle.
Moonrise and Moonset
https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/
This website provides the moonrise and moonset times for a location provided by the user.
Ada Asks Science Challenge (1:38 minutes)
This video introduces the science challenge. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
Walk to School
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This file shows photos of students walking to school at two different times of the year.
Sunrise (0:20)
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This video shows the Sun rising.
City Sunrise (0:10)
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This video shows the Sun rising in Tokyo.
Daylight Where I Live
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Students use this sheet to record whether the sky is bright or dark when they go to school and go home on four different days of the year.
Walk to School with Flashlights (0:17 minutes)
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This video shows students walking to school in the dark while carrying flashlights.
Walk to School with Glow Sticks (0:08 minutes)
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This video shows students walking to school in the dark while carrying glow sticks.
Walk to School under Streetlights (0:14 minutes)
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This video shows students walking to school in the dark under a streetlight.
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