Day length in summer
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can observe what happens to day length in summer.
Key learning points
- The amount of light we see during the day changes throughout the year.
- Day length is longer in the season of summer and this means that it is darker later.
- Day length can be investigated using observation skills.
- A clock can be used to help record what time it becomes dark each evening.
- The longest day, when we have the most amount of daylight, in the UK is June 21st.
Keywords
Season - Seasons are periods of similar weather. In the UK there are four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter).
Summer - Summer is the season after spring and before autumn.
Light - It is light during the daytime.
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 longer during summer. You may link back to a previous lesson: Day length in winter (in the Year 1 unit: Seasonal changes: autumn and winter).
Teacher tip
Remind pupils that even when it is dark outside, it can still be light inside and this light is not coming from the sun but instead from artificial lighting. Turn off lights in the classroom to demonstrate the impact of artificial lights.
Equipment
Watch or clock.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these statements is true?
Q2.Which season has the warmest weather?
Q3.What is a heatwave?
Q4.What is temperature?
Q5.Sam wants to find out how hot the weather is. What can she use to find out?
Q6.Sam finds out how hot the weather is using a thermometer. Which skill is she using?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? The amount of light each day stays the same throughout the year.
Q2.In the United Kingdom, day length is longest in which season?
Q3.How can we investigate the length of days?
Q4.What is the date of the longest day of the year in the United Kingdom?
Q5.What can we use to investigate the length of days?
Q6.Which of these will you observe during the summer?
To help you plan your 1 science lesson on: Day length in summer, 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 summer, 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: spring and summer unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.