Materials
thick black permanent marker
3 large pieces of poster board
magazine pictures of a variety of items (paper, plastic, glass, and food)
newspapers
junk mail with the address removed or blacked out
natural items such as leaves, grass, and twigs
glue
paintbrushes
Instructions
1. Hold up a yellow balloon high above a globe on a table.
2. Show the children how day and night arrive. Remind the children that the sun
does not go away and come back; the Earth simply spins around on its axis so
that the sun shines on parts of the Earth at different times.
3. Tell the children that it takes 24 hours for the Earth to spin itself around.
4. Tell the children to stand in a large circle on the floor. Place "raindrops" (blue
tissue paper balls) around the outside of the area.
5. With your hands, tap the yellow balloon high into the air and invite two
children to keep tapping the "sun" so that it stays up in the sky. Make sure to
let all the children get a turn tapping the balloon.
6. Each time a child taps the balloon, have the children say "sunny day"
in unison.
7. Every so often, announce a "rainy day" and hold on to the sun. Invite the
children to pick up blue raindrops, toss them up into the air, and let them land
on the ground.
Assessment
Consider the following:
* Do the children understand that the Earth rotates on its axis?
* Can the children say how long it takes for the Earth to rotate on its axis, and
how long it takes to travel around the sun?
