How To Teach About Earth And Space

Teaching primary school students about earth and space can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Using various instructional strategies, you can help your students learn about our planet, its place in the solar system, and other fascinating topics.

Here are some tips on how to teach earth and space in primary school.

Related: For more, check out our article on Teaching Electricity In School here.

EYFS: Explore The Natural World

Giving primary school students the power to explore the natural world around them through experiential learning can transform their understanding of Earth and Space.

Integrating aspects of the EYFS curriculum into a teaching approach that values discovery, collaboration, and critical thinking can engage pupils in Earth and Space activities, observing plants and animals’ growth and collecting data on animal activity in nature.

By introducing them to topics such as winter storms, flight patterns of migrating birds, or tips on how plants need water to survive, pupils will gain a more robust understanding and insight into these concepts with exciting hands-on experiences that combine knowledge acquired in class with questions they bring back from their outdoor adventures.

KS1 – Understand The Effect Of Changing Seasons

Teaching KS1 about the changing seasons provides essential opportunities to explore how the environment around us adapts as time passes.

By studying seasonal differences, children will better understand the impact on animals, nature and plants at different times of the year, from hibernation and migration to light levels.

Through activities such as going on nature walks or observing seasonal changes in weather and temperature, young learners can foster a deep appreciation for life cycles and their relationship with nature.

Ultimately, these activities build a valuable foundation for learning about natural phenomena at all levels of education.

KS2 – Recognise Light And Dark Properties

Introducing a primary school lesson about Earth and Space provided an essential opportunity for students to not only learn about the concept of light but also understand that the absence of light causes darkness.

Developing this understanding early in their educational journey was pivotal as it helped young learners better grasp day, night and the solar system.

Teaching students how to differentiate between dark and light helps lay down the foundations of making sure they recognise the importance of defining terms constantly while they develop their knowledge further.

The Dangers Of Light

As primary school teachers, it is essential to consider the safety of our students when teaching about earth and space. In particular, young children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of sunlight.

Therefore, we must not only educate our students on the fact that light from the sun can be dangerous but also equip them with ways to protect their eyes from potential damage from UV rays.

This could include discussing how wearing sunglasses, or hats can help safeguard children’s eyes from exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Ultimately, there is no doubt that by providing students with this information and showing them how to stay safe in the sun, we are giving them invaluable life skills for years to come.

Shadows

No matter the age group, introducing the concept of shadows can be a great way to spark a student’s natural curiosity. When teaching primary schoolers about earth and space, one simple but engaging activity is to explain how shadows are formed when a solid object blocks a light source.

Ask the students to find an example in their classroom and observe how different shapes cast shadows on the wall or floor.

Once each student has attended, discuss why this phenomenon occurs with an interesting story explaining why objects cast shadows when light is blocked.

Visual and interactive activities such as this can help capture their attention and let them engage with this scientific concept in a fun way.

The Movement Of Earth

Learning about the solar system can be a wondrous classroom experience! Students can explore the orbits and positions of all planets, including Earth. The Earth revolves around the sun, with one complete revolution taking 365 days!

Meanwhile, other planets such as Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn also have their courses around the sun at different speeds—allowing students to begin understanding orbital speed and movement. Students can better understand how our solar system works by exploring this fascinating concept!

Earth’s Rotation

When teaching primary school students about Earth and space, the concept of the Earth’s rotation effectively explains why day turns into night and why the sun appears to move across the sky.

Children can visualise what is happening simply by emphasising how the earth rotates on its axis. As day turns into night and back again, children gain a concrete understanding of why this occurs and the idea can be applied to other celestial phenomena.

A hands-on activity could be incorporated in which a globe or rotating model is utilised so that students can further explore the idea for themselves. Explaining earth and space through this concept helps children truly comprehend these mind-boggling scientific aspects.

The importance of science isn’t up for debate. Teachers must ensure our students understand earth and space from an early age.

Children can receive an invaluable education about the Universe by introducing basic concepts in a meaningful way, such as how the sun’ssun’s light produces shadows or how the earth’s rotation affects day and night.

Many of these concepts can be taught in fun and interactive so that students appreciate the importance of science.

By the time they finish their primary school years, children will have a strong foundation of scientific knowledge to build upon for their future studies.

FAQ About Teaching Earth and Space