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SUN, MOON, AND STARS
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GOALS
The Sun, Moon, and Stars Module consists of three sequential
investigations, each designed to introduce students to objects we see
in the sky. Through outdoor observations made during the day and at
night, active simulations, readings, videos, and discussions, students
study the Sun, Moon, and stars to learn that these objects move in
regular and predictable patterns that can be observed, recorded, and
analyzed.
FOSS EXPECTS STUDENTS TO
• Observe and record how the Sun, Earth’s star, rises in the
east and sets in the west in a predictable pattern.
• Learn that Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night.
Day happens when a location on Earth is facing toward the
Sun, and night happens when a location is facing away from
the Sun.
• Understand that the exact path the Sun takes in the sky
varies by season.
• Understand that shadows are the areas of darkness created
when an opaque object blocks light and that shadows on
Earth depend on the position of the Sun in the sky.
• Learn that Earth is one of several planets that orbit the Sun
in the solar system.
• Learn that the Moon orbits Earth and can appear in the sky
during both day and night; observe and record how the
Moon changes its appearance or phase in a regular pattern
over 4 weeks.
• Learn how useful telescopes are in studying the solar
system, as they make distant objects look closer and larger.
• Learn that stars are suns positioned at great distances from
Earth and form groups called constellations that appear to
move together across the sky at night.
• Use tools to collect and analyze data to develop logical
conclusions about the movements of objects in the sky.
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