Look up at the sky
The sky is full of things to see. In this lesson you will find out about the Sun, the Moon and the stars.
- Name the Sun, the Moon and the stars.
- Say why we have day and night.
- Know never to look straight at the Sun.
Links to: Year 1 science, seasonal changes: day and night and day length.
The Sun
The Sun is a star. It is a giant ball of very hot gas. It gives us light and keeps us warm.
The Sun is so bright that it can hurt your eyes. Never look straight at the Sun, not even with sunglasses.
Day and night
Earth is always slowly spinning. When our side of Earth faces the Sun, it is day. When our side turns away from the Sun, it is night.
In summer the days are long and the nights are short. In winter the days are short and the nights are long.
The Moon and the stars
At night we can often see the Moon. The Moon does not make its own light. It shines because the Sun lights it up.
On a clear, dark night you can see lots of stars. Stars are suns that are very, very far away. That is why they look like tiny dots.
Be a sky watcher. On a clear evening, look out of a window with a grown-up. Draw what you can see: the Moon, stars, clouds or anything else. Do it again another night. Is the Moon the same shape?
Quiz
5 questions. Choose an answer to see whether you are right and why. Finish the quiz to complete the lesson.
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Question 1What is the Sun?
The Sun is a star, a giant ball of very hot gas that gives us light and heat.
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Question 2Why do we have night?
Earth spins. When our side faces away from the Sun, it is night.
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Question 3Should you ever look straight at the Sun?
The Sun is so bright it can hurt your eyes, even with sunglasses on.
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Question 4Why does the Moon shine?
The Moon does not make its own light. Sunlight bounces off it.
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Question 5When are the days longest?
In summer the days are long and the nights are short.