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 Day, Later, Night, Now

Observing the sky to learn target words

Month 4 · Activity 14 · Target Words  

Instructions

  • Go outside during the day and ask what color is the sky and what is shining in the day sky
  • Go outside during the night and ask what color is the sky and what is shining in the night sky
  • Chat about the sun and how it helps us - it keeps us warm, it provides light, it helps to grow our food; it is the largest star in the sky
  • Chat about the moon and the different shapes - use a round cookie (optional) to share the shapes - full, crescent, quarter, new
  • Here is a video to watch about day and night

Simplify

Each week this month, take a look at the sky during the day and night  - and encourage a child to ask questions and make observations 

Extend

Introduce how the earth rotates - it rotates once every 24 hours.  Using a globe, place a sticker on the globe where you live.  Shine a flashlight a few inches to the left of the sticker.  Keep the flashlight in the same position.  Now turn or rotate the globe counterclockwise, and when the flashlight hits the sticker that is morning when the sun appears to be rising.  Continue to rotate the globe slowly until the flashlight is not able to light up the area around the sticker.  Explain that now it is nighttime where the sticker is and daytime where the flashlight is shining.  Continue to rotate the globe until the sticker is reached by the flashlight. Explain that we rotated the globe very slowly but that the Earth actually rotates at 1000 miles an hour. (that is faster than a commercial airplane) There are 8 phases of the moon - share those phases with the child; New Moon, Waxing Crescent Moon, First Quarter Moon, Waxing Gibbous Moon, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous Moon, Third Quarter Moon, Waning Crescent

QUESTIONS FOR CHILD

Tell me your favorite time of a day; night or day and why?

What would you like to be in the sky - the sun or the moon and why?

Can you name something yellow like the sun and something white like the moon?

Materials

  • none
  • Math & Science Skills
  • Problem Solving Skills
  • On the Go Activity