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Year 5

The shape of objects in space

You can consider evidence from space, and describe the shape of the Earth, Sun and Moon.

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New
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Year 5

The shape of objects in space

You can consider evidence from space, and describe the shape of the Earth, Sun and Moon.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Throughout history, people have disagreed about the shape of objects in space, such as planets, moons and stars.
  2. The Earth, Sun and Moon are approximately spherical in shape.
  3. Images and measurements taken from space provide evidence to help us understand the shape of objects in space.

Keywords

  • Earth - Earth is the planet on which we live

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

  • Moon - Our Moon is an object that travels around planet Earth

  • Spherical - A shape that is spherical is perfectly round like a ball

  • Evidence - Evidence is information which helps us to prove that something is true or not true

Common misconception

Pupils may think that objects in space are flat, circular shapes rather than spherical.

Provide plenty of opportunities for children to use 3D models to represent the Earth, Sun and Moon, and look at images and simulations.

Use the Additional Material for suggestions of real images taken from space, for further research pupils could carry out for themselves.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Selection of spherical objects, access to books and the internet for research

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
This object in space is called the .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Earth
Q2.
Which object would not make a good model of Earth?
Correct answer: a cereal box
a football
an orange
Q3.
Which object would make a good model of Earth?
a hula hoop
Correct answer: a tennis ball
a tin of beans
Q4.
Which word means shaped like a sphere?
circular
Correct answer: spherical
diagonal
Q5.
Scientists tell us that Earth is approximately spherical. What does 'approximately' mean?
Approximately means they do not know so are just making a guess.
Approximately means exactly.
Correct answer: Approximately means nearly or close to.
Q6.
What is the name of this object that is used to represent the spherical Earth?
An image in a quiz
atlas
Correct answer: globe
spinning ball

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
People have always disagreed about the shape of objects in space. Which of these statements about the Sun is true?
The Sun is flat like a pancake.
Correct answer: The Sun is round like a sphere.
The Sun doesn't have a shape because it is always changing.
Q2.
The Moon appears to change shape at different times of the month. Which statement about the Moon is true?
Correct answer: The Moon looks like it changes shape but it is always a sphere.
The Moon looks like it changes shape but it is always a circle.
The Moon looks like it changes shape so it is lots of different shapes.
Q3.
Why do scientists say Earth, the Sun and the Moon are approximately spherical? What does approximately mean?
exactly
opposite
Correct answer: almost
Q4.
How did the invention of flight (aeroplanes and hot air balloons) provide evidence about the shape of Earth?
Correct answer: People could get much higher above the surface of Earth.
People could move much faster across the sky.
People became much braver to make new discoveries.
Q5.
Which is something that can be used to send images of objects in space back to Earth?
microscope
Correct answer: satellite
magnifying glass
Q6.
Images and measurements taken from space provide us with evidence. What does evidence mean?
Information that gives you directions to somewhere on Earth.
Information that has been made up.
Correct answer: Information that helps you decide if something is true.

Additional material

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