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I like these ideas Sean also, the vocabulary development is so important also, its surprising the lingo we take for granted that the pupils dont actually have.
I also used the compass in the local playground to help the children find North/South East and West. and to tell me something thats to the N/S/E/W of them to verify their understanding.
For drawing the shadows, the kids in our yard are very happy anytime we give them chalk to mark things out.
I used the ESERO 30 lesson guide as the basis for my lesson. Day and night can be taught very effectively through this lesson because it is entirely hands‑on, visual and rooted in real‑world observation. The orange activity is especially powerful: drawing a rough outline of Earth’s continents on the orange helps children link the model to the real planet, and I’ve used this successfully in the past to strengthen their spatial understanding. When the torch shines on one side, children immediately see how Europe can be in daylight while Australia is in darkness, exactly as described in the lesson: “the Sun only shines on the half of the Earth that is facing the Sun… on the other side of the planet it is then night.”
Having the children see the orange and a globe and a torch move in tandem is a very visual & Spatial experience for them and can help to remove the misconceptions around Earth in space.
I’ve found that taking the class to a shaded outdoor area also enriches vocabulary around light, dark, shade, parasol and shadows, reinforcing the idea that light travels in straight lines. A follow‑on sundial activity works beautifully here—children construct a simple sundial, measure shadow lengths, and link these changes to the Earth’s rotation. This adds mathematical measurement, prediction, and pattern‑spotting, making it a natural STEM extension.
The Department of Education emphasises Ireland will have the highest‑quality STEM learning, and this lesson aligns strongly with the ISTA Liston document’s aims: authentic STEM requires real‑world relevance, problem solving, creativity, and hands‑on engagement. “STEM lessons encourage children to go deeper… students become innovative critical thinkers… and understand how to approach and solve problems.”
By combining questioning, modelling, construction, and outdoor investigation, this lesson becomes a rich, authentic STEM learning experience.
