ESL Lesson Plan DRAFT

Evan Becker & Jenny Hawthorne

WIDA
Levels

Specific Language Level Objectives

(Write 1-4 per level, including the domains on which the lessons focuses.)

WIDA level one students will be able to

Draw the seasons; demonstrate knowledge of revolution and tilt of the Earth

WIDA level two students will be able to

Complete graphic organizers, demonstrating the Earth-Sun relationship during seasons

WIDA level three students will be able to

Short-answer, complete sentence answers to open-ended questions

WIDA level four students will be able to

Describe the Earth-Sun relationship and tilts influence over seasons/weather

WIDA level five students will be able to

Have the students write expository sentences with the pictures that they write

Title

Exploring the Seasons

Purpose/Rationale

Students will learn about Earths rotation, tilt, and how seasons
are influenced by these properties as it revolves around the sun.

SOLs

Standard 6.8
d) revolution and rotation
g) the relationship of Earths tilt and the seasons

Materials and
Resources

Safety Issues

Tripping over people/desks during movement around the sun

Activity worksheet
Coloured pencils/crayons/pens/pencils
Season Wheel with spinner (1 season per quarter of the wheel)
Globe (with marked location) and Sun
Whiteboard and markers
Computer and projector

Procedures for Teaching

Engage (prior
knowledge
assessment)

1. (6 minutes) Take a few moments introduce the seasons and

terminology (we will display images of the different seasons
during this introduction); give time for the students to draw
their favourite season/weather (or what seasons that theyre
familiar with). We will then quickly share our favourite

seasons and write them on the board.

Explore

2. (4 minutes) Demonstrate revolution by one of us walking

around the other, and rotation by spinning in place; example
of Earth doing both is rotating (spinning) while revolving
(walking around). An image of the Earths position during
different seasons will be displayed on the overhead projector to
further demonstrate this concept. Image:
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/missiontomars/images/seasons.gif

Explain (include key

vocabulary/concepts)

3. (4-6 minutes) Seasons explanations: the part of Earth that is

tilted so that the suns rays touch it more directly and more
intensely, and how this changes the length of day, affecting
climate/temperature. Students should write the definitions on
their activity sheets. The terms/definitions will be displayed on
the overhead and explained by teacher.
Vocabulary Words/Concepts:
Rotation
Revolution
Tilt
Season

Elaborate

(10 minutes) Spinner activity in which students spin a season

wheel and must position themselves as Earth around the sun
(another student) at the location relevant to the season the
spinner lands on. Students will be given a globe with their
current location (Virginia) marked. After each turn, another
student gets a chance to be the Earth, and another student acts
as the sun.
(10 minutes) The teacher will position the Earth (student) in a
certain location and tilt around the sun. Have the students give
us the seasons/weather of whats going on in a certain location
given a certain tilt.
(10-15 minutes) Have the students draw the pictures for each
of the four seasons on their activity sheet.

Evaluate
Formative

Observe students during the spinner activity and ensure they are
able to position themselves as Earth in the correct locations
and tilts

Summative

Successful completion of the activity sheet.

Activity Sheet
(includes safety, data
recording,
open-ended questions)

(Attached to lesson plan)

Earths Seasons - Activity Sheet

Draw a picture of your favorite season:

Important Terms
Rotation:

Revolution:

Tilt:

Season:

Draw the position of the Earth and Sun during each season:
Summer

Autumn

Winter

Spring

What are some things that happen on Earths surface when the season changes?

How are you affected by seasonal changes?