New
New
Year 5

More about the Sun (non-statutory)

I can use a range of secondary sources to research about the Sun.

New
New
Year 5

More about the Sun (non-statutory)

I can use a range of secondary sources to research about the Sun.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Sun is a bright, hot ball of gas at the centre of our solar system
  2. The Sun is the closest star to Earth
  3. The Sun is the primary source of all the heat and light on Earth
  4. The surface of the Sun can reach 5505°C
  5. We can find out more about the Sun by carrying out research

Keywords

  • Sun - The Sun is a star and the centre of our solar system.

  • Solar system - The solar system is the name for our Sun and the planets which orbit around it.

  • Research - To research something is to find out about it or investigate it carefully.

  • Secondary sources - Secondary sources are texts, images or objects created using information gathered by others.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that the Sun is a planet.

Explain that the Sun is a star because, like other stars, it is a huge ball of glowing gas which has planets travelling around it.

When learning about the Sun as a star, show children close-up images of other stars so that they can see the similarities between them and the Sun. It may surprise and interest them to see how small our Sun is compared with others in our galaxy.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Access to the internet and/or non-fiction texts about the Sun.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the name of this object in space?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Sun, the Sun, sun, the sun, The Sun
Q2.
Which of these objects in space is the largest?
Correct answer: Sun
Moon
Earth
Q3.
The shape of the Sun is called a __________.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: sphere, spherical
Q4.
What is the surface of something?
The centre or middle
The underside
Correct answer: The outside or top layer
Q5.
What units of measure do we use for temperature?
centimetres
Correct answer: degrees Celsius
kilograms
kilometres
Q6.
Match the material to the correct state of matter.
Correct Answer:water,liquid

liquid

Correct Answer:air,gas

gas

Correct Answer:wood,solid

solid

6 Questions

Q1.
What is at the centre of our solar system?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: The Sun, Sun, The sun, sun, the sun
Q2.
What is the primary source of heat and light on Earth?
the Moon
all of the stars
Correct answer: the Sun
Q3.
What is the Sun?
An image in a quiz
a moon
Correct answer: a star
a planet
Q4.
What is the Sun made of?
An image in a quiz
fire
rock
magma
Correct answer: gas
Q5.
Match the place to the correct temperature
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:inside the human body,37 degrees Celsius

37 degrees Celsius

Correct Answer:at the surface of the Sun,5,505 degrees Celsius

5,505 degrees Celsius

Correct Answer:inside a fridge,3 degrees Celsius

3 degrees Celsius

Correct Answer:inside a freezer,-18 degrees Celsius

-18 degrees Celsius

Correct Answer:boiling water,100 degrees Celsius

100 degrees Celsius

Q6.
Which of these is not a good way of finding out more about the Sun?
An image in a quiz
speaking to an expert
reading non-fiction texts
Correct answer: looking directly at the Sun
using specially designed safety telescopes to make observations