Day length in winter
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can observe what happens to day length in winter.
Key learning points
- The amount of light we see each day changes throughout the year.
- Day length is shorter in the season of winter and this means that it is darker for longer.
- Day length can be investigated using observation skills.
- A clock can be used to help record what time it becomes dark each evening.
- The shortest day, when we have the least amount of daylight, in the UK is December 21st.
Keywords
Light - It is light during the daytime.
Season - Seasons are periods of similar weather. In the UK there are four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter).
Winter - Winter is the coldest season of the year. It is between autumn and spring.
Day length - Day length is how long it is light for during a day. This happens between sunrise and sunset.
Time - Time tells you how long something takes to happen.
Common misconception
We have the same amount of daylight in every season.
Explanation of how day length changes throughout the year and is shorter during winter.
Teacher tip
Turn off lights in the classroom to demonstrate the impact of artificial lights and remind pupils that even when it is dark outside, it can still be light inside but this light is not coming from the sun but from artificial lighting.
Equipment
Watch or clock, a globe and torch may also be useful but not essential.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which statement is true?
Q2.Which of these photographs shows the weather in winter?
Q3.What season does winter come after?
Q4.What do we use a thermometer for?
Q5.True or false? The weather in winter is often hot with lots of sun.
Q6.We can use observation skills to ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? The amount of light each day changes throughout the year.
Q2.In the United Kingdom, day length is shortest in which season?
Q3.How can we investigate the length of days?
Q4.What is the date of the shortest day of the year in the United Kingdom?
Q5.What can we use to investigate the length of days?
Q6.Which of these might you observe during the winter?
To help you plan your 1 science lesson on: Day length in winter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 science lesson on: Day length in winter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 science lessons from the Seasonal changes: autumn and winter unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.