# Lesson 131: The sun gives us light and warmth

🔬 SCIENCE (40 Lessons) • 🔵 B. The Earth and Sky

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## Objective

I can explain that the sun is a star that gives Earth light and warmth. I can tell how the sun helps us see in the daytime, keeps Earth warm enough for living things, and why we must use sun safety.

## Materials

- A window or safe place where you can see the sky (if possible)
- Small objects to make shadows (toy, cup, pencil, or small block)
- A lamp or torch to model the sun indoors (optional)
- Pencil and notebook or scrap paper

## Mini-lesson — The sun gives us light and warmth

The sun is a big, hot star in our sky. It is much bigger than Earth, but it looks small because it is far away.

The sun gives us light

- In the day, the sun gives light so we can see.
- When the sun shines on the side of Earth we live on, it is daytime.
- When our part of Earth turns away from the sun, it is night.

The sun gives us warmth

- The sun warms the air, the ground, and the water.
- Without the sun, Earth would be too cold for plants, animals, and people.

Shadows

- When light from the sun hits an object, it makes a shadow on the ground.
- In the morning and late day, shadows look long.
- Near midday, when the sun is high in the sky, shadows look short.

Sun safety

- Never look straight at the sun with your eyes.
- Wear a hat or stay in the shade if it feels too hot.
- Ask an adult to help you use sun cream on sunny days.

The sun is powerful. It helps life on Earth but we must be safe and protect our eyes and skin.

Picture strip: The sun, Earth, and a child in the sun

The sun and Earth

Light, warmth, and shadow

## Guided Practice — Watch how the sun helps us

You will notice how the sun gives light and warmth and how it makes shadows. Use the questions to guide the talk.

1. Look outside: If you can see the sky, look out of a window with an adult. Is the sun out or is it cloudy?
2. Feel the air: If it is safe, step outside for a moment. Does the air feel warm or cool? Explain that the warmth comes from the sun.
3. Find a shadow: Hold a small object (toy, cup, or pencil) so the sun shines on it. Look on the ground or wall for the shadow.
4. Move the object: Slowly move the object and watch how the shadow moves too. The object blocks the light and makes the shadow.
5. Think about day and night: Talk about how when the sun is in our sky it is day, and when our part of Earth turns away, it is night.
6. Talk about safety: Remind the child: "We never look straight at the sun. We can use hats and shade."
7. Use the tracing pad: Choose words like sun, light, warm, day, or shade from the dropdown. Trace them slowly and say each word aloud.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice 1 — Daytime or night?

Talk through each idea and decide if it sounds like daytime or night.

- Children are playing outside and can clearly see their toys.
- The sky is dark and you can see stars.
- Birds are singing and the sun is bright in the sky.
- Most people are in bed and the street lights are on.

For each one, say if the sun is in our sky or if our part of Earth has turned away from the sun.

## Practice 2 — What would happen without the sun?

Imagine what Earth would be like with no sun. Talk or draw ideas.

1. Draw a picture of Earth with the sun shining. Show plants, animals, and people.
2. Next to it, draw Earth with no sun. What would happen to light and warmth?
3. Talk about why plants, animals, and people need the sun to live.

Use simple sentences like "Without the sun it would be too cold" or "Without the sun we would not have daytime".

## Practice 3 — Sun safety choices

For each idea, decide if it is a safe or unsafe way to be in the sun.

- Wearing a hat and playing in the shade when the sun feels strong.
- Staring straight at the sun to see how bright it is.
- Asking an adult to help put on sun cream before going to the beach.
- Staying outside for a long time in the hot sun with no shade.

Explain which ideas are safe and which are not, and why we want to protect our eyes and skin.

## Quick Check — The sun gives us light and warmth

Answer each question about the sun. Think about how it gives Earth light and warmth, and how we can be safe.

1) What is the sun?

A small lamp in the sky. A big, hot star. A rock that hangs in the air.
The sun is a big, hot star in our sky.

2) What does the sun give Earth so we can see?

Light. Snow. Loud sound.
The sun gives us light so we can see in the daytime.

3) What does the sun give Earth to keep it from being too cold?

Toys. Rain only. Warmth.
The sun warms the air, land, and water.

4) When the sun is in our sky, it is usually…

Nighttime. Daytime. Inside our house.
When the sun is in our sky, we see daytime.

5) What happens when our part of Earth turns away from the sun?

It becomes night. It turns into water. The sun falls down.
When we face away from the sun, we have night.

6) What is a shadow?

A bright light in the sky. A sound we hear at night. A dark shape made when something blocks light.
Shadows happen when an object blocks the light from the sun.

7) When is a shadow often short?

Late at night. Around midday when the sun is high. Only on rainy days.
When the sun is high in the sky, shadows look shorter.

8) Why can we not live on Earth without the sun?

It would be too dark and too cold. We would have too many hats. There would be too many toys.
The sun gives light and warmth that living things need.

9) Which is a safe way to be in the sun?

Staring straight at the sun. Going outside with no shade for a very long time. Wearing a hat and playing in the shade.
Hats and shade help protect our eyes and skin from strong sun.

10) Why should we never look straight at the sun?

It might fall down. It can hurt our eyes. It will turn us blue.
The sun is very bright and can damage our eyes.

11) Which picture would show the sun giving us warmth?

A family having a picnic on a sunny day. A person in a dark room at night. A closed box in a cupboard.
The picnic on a sunny day shows the sun warming the air and ground.

12) What helps you remember that the sun gives us light?

We can see in a room with no windows at night. It is bright outside when the sun is in the sky. It rains every day.
Daytime brightness comes from the sun giving us light.

13) Which set shows things that need the sun?

Rock, chair, book. Lamp, phone, toy. Tree, cat, child.
Trees, cats, and children are living and need the sun in some way.

14) How does the sun help plants?

It gives them light and warmth to grow. It turns them into toys. It makes them jump.
Plants use the sun's light and warmth to grow.

15) Why do we learn about the sun in science?

Only to draw pictures of circles. To understand how it gives Earth light, warmth, and helps life. So we can touch the sun one day.
The sun is very important for life on Earth, so we want to understand it.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can say that the sun is a star that gives Earth light and warmth. Student can tell that when the sun is in our sky it is daytime, and when we face away it is night. Student can describe a shadow as a dark shape made when something blocks light. Student can give one or two reasons why living things need the sun. Student can name at least one safe way to be in the sun (hat, shade, not looking at the sun).

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can explain how the sun gives us light and warmth. 🙂 I understand some things about the sun but still need more practice. 😅 The sun and shadows still feel a bit tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Telling the difference between day and night Explaining how the sun makes shadows Saying safe ways to be in the sun
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