Lesson Note for BST – Basic Science, Third (3rd) Term (Week 5) | NUE, NAPPS Scheme (Scientific Method/Approach of Lesson Delivery)
Day & Night
LESSON NOTE
Subject: Basic Science and Technology (BST)
Class: Grade 5
Week: 5
Topic: Day & Night
Duration: 60 minutes
Topic: Day and Night
Driving Question
Why do we experience day and night on Earth?
Pupils Should Be Able To:
- Explain what causes day and night.
- Understand the role of Earth’s rotation.
- Demonstrate the movement of the Earth using models.
- Describe what happens when part of the Earth faces the sun and when it turns away.
Hypothesis
If the Earth rotates, then different parts of the Earth will face the sun at different times, causing day and night.
Investigation
Materials Needed:
- Globe or round object (like a ball)
- Torchlight or lamp (representing the sun)
- Dark room (or cover to block light)
Steps:
- Place the globe or ball on a table in a dark room.
- Switch on the torchlight and keep it in one position (this represents the sun).
- Slowly turn the globe from left to right (West to East).
- Observe what part of the globe is lit by the torchlight and what part is dark.
- Mark a point on the globe (e.g., Nigeria) and notice how it moves into the light and out again.
Observation
- The part of the globe facing the light becomes bright (daytime).
- The part turned away from the light is dark (nighttime).
- As the globe turns, the marked point moves from dark to light and back to dark again.
Discovery
- The Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours.
- This rotation causes different parts of the Earth to face the sun or turn away from it.
- When a place faces the sun, it is day there.
- When a place is turned away from the sun, it is night there.
Conclusion
Day and night are caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis. As the Earth turns, different parts face the sun (day) while others are in darkness (night). This process continues every day.