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Light Pollution is actually something I have skipped over too and I am very interested to learn about it. When doing lessons on light, I actually have not taught about light pollution so I am glad I have learnt about it through this course.
This is an idea I really like comparing a sky in an rural area with a city. Having the children be part of the observation process and gathering information to bring back to the class discussions promotes engaged and motivated learners keeping their attention throughout the project.
Globe at Night – Citizen Science Activity (Teaching Resource)
Globe at Night citizen science project will help give children the opportunity to become real scientists, by inviting them to measure light pollution by observing the night sky and reporting what they see. The children will be encouraged to choose a clear night during the campaign dates, then go outside at least an hour after sunset. I will provide the children with a printable star chart and the children can locate the constellation Orion (in winter) or Cygnus (in autumn). They can then compare what they see with the star chart and report their results online at globeatnight.org. This easy activity teaches observation skills, environmental awareness, and data collection. Students can discuss how city lights affect our view of the stars and why darkness matters for nature. Use this as a homework task or class investigation, then compare your results with others from around the world. This makes science meaningful, real, and connected to global learning.This is a very engaging lesson, brainstorming what the children already know is a great way to start the lesson and get the children involved from the very beginning. Encouraging active learners through observation activities will motivate children to share their findings during class discussions. A great, detailed lesson.
Class Level: 3rd–6th Class
Theme: Planets in the Evening Sky – Autumn
Strand: Earth and Space (Science Curriculum)Learning Objectives
By the end of these lessons, children will:
Know which planets can be seen in the evening sky during autumn.
Recognise and name planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
Understand that planets move across the sky over time.
Use a star chart or app to locate planets.
Record simple observations.Materials Needed
Printed star charts or free astronomy apps (e.g., Star Walk, Sky Map)
Planet fact cards (Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus)
Observation journals or worksheets
Art materials for drawing planets
Access to the school yard or a dark outdoor area (optional night-time viewing)The Lessons will contain the following discussions and teaching points:
Introduce the planets and night sky.
Focus on Saturn: Show where it is in the sky (southeast after sunset).
Make Saturn fact sheets or draw its rings.
Encourage simple observations at home.
Next Step:
Introduce Jupiter: It becomes brighter and rises earlier.
Compare Jupiter and Saturn (size, moons, position).
Use apps/star charts to locate them together.
Development:
Start observation journals.
Review Jupiter and Saturn.
Discuss why Mars and Venus aren’t visible in the evening.
Children create a “Planet Watcher” poster showing autumn planet positions.Assessment by observing journal entries, planet fact posters and/or drawings, participation in class discussions and reflection time.
Integration:
Art: Draw planets or build them in 3D.
English: Write a planet poem or a diary entry from Saturn’s moon.
Geography: Discuss where in the world we see these planets.This lesson sounds like it would ignite some critical thinkers in the classroom. I especially like the beginning of the lesson where the history of timekeeping is discussed. This is a lesson I will do myself in school.
Answer to Module One:
To engage primary school children in exploring the concept of gravity, I would begin with the Earth and planet tubes activity.
Children would decorate one cardboard tube as Earth, using blue and green to represent oceans and land, and a second as a different planet, such as the Moon or Jupiter. We would have a class discussion about the size and mass of these planets and how this affects the strength of gravity.
Next, pupils would predict what might happen if we dropped objects like a cotton ball or marbles through each “planet” tube. They would then test their ideas and record their observations. While all objects fall at the same rate on Earth, this s setup allows for playful thinking and deeper discussion around how gravity differs across planets.
To conclude, children would complete a short reflection—drawing or writing about what they discovered and one question they still have. For early finishers, I would provide extension challenges such as researching gravity on different planets, creating a poster comparing them, or designing a fictional planet and deciding how strong its gravity would be and why. This activity encourages prediction, observation, creativity, and scientific thinking in an accessible and enjoyable way for all learners.