SMT 416 Lesson Plan

Mohr

Alyssa
9/22/15

Objective:
Students will learn how the Sun angle affects the amount of radiation a place
receives. This means that the sun angle on a specific place causes that place to
have a particular season. The students will also learn how the solar radiation varies
with latitude. As the sun angle increase, the amount of radiation decreases.
Students will also learn about the different parallels of latitude and how they are
connected to the sun angle. Students will also be able to know the dates and
characteristics of the solstices and equinoxes. Students will also learn how to look at
an Analemma diagram to determine the sun angle for any place on Earth on any
day. Lastly students will be able to determine the noon sun angle on a specific date
and a specific latitude.
Learning Target:
1. Students will learn the difference between the weather and climate.
Weather: the state of the atmosphere at a given place and time.
Climate: Average condition of the atmosphere (temperature or precipitation) over a
long period of time.
2. Students will learn the how solar radiation is determined by intensity and
duration. Intensity and duration vary from place to place.
Intensity: depends on the angle at which the Suns rays strike a surface
Duration: refers to the length of daylight.
3. Students will learn Earth-Sun relationships as it relates to parallels of latitude and
the equinoxes.
Tropic of Cancer: Usually occurs between June 21st and 22nd. Occurs at 23
North. For the Northern Hemisphere, June 21 st and 22nd is known as the summer
solstice (the first official day of summer)
Tropic of Capricorn: The Earth is in the opposite position (23 S.) For those in
the Northern Hemisphere, December 21st -22nd is known as the winter solstice.
****Students must keep in mind that whichever solstice the Northern Hemisphere is
in, the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing just the opposite****
Autumnal Equinox: September 22nd or 23rd is the date of this equinox in the
Northern Hemisphere. At this equinox, the vertical rays of the Sun strike the equator
because the Earths axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun.

Spring Equinox: very similar to the autumn equinox except it occurs on the
opposite side of the equator and usually occurs during the dates March 21 st or 22nd.
4. Students will use a graph to determine the exact noon sun angle for a specific
date.
Analemma: Is a type of graph that can be used to determine the latitude where the
overhead noon Sun is located for any date.
Relevance/ Rationale
For elementary level students, this information is important because they will be
able to determine which way is North and South and the different seasons that
occur in both hemispheres. Earth-Sun relationships are important to note especially
when it comes to determining weather and climate. Students will also be able to
distinguish angles and how that affects radiation levels of the sun.
Formative Assessment
I will have the students draw a picture of the sun, the 2 different solstices, and the 2
different equinoxes. They will label the different dates correlating to each section:

Activities/ Tasks
a. After labeling the diagram above, students will be given a chart that describes
the length of daylight for each solstice and equinox.
b. The latitude is also given
c. Each student will be given a degree of latitude and will fill in the hours and
minutes keeping in mind whether it is the northern of southern (summer or winter
solstice) hemisphere.

d. The teacher will then direct the students outside to see what angle the sun is at
that very moment and the students must explain why they came up with that
answer.
e. Lastly, the teachers will give students an opportunity to act out each season in
groups and which hemisphere that season occurs in.