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Free teacher resources including complete lesson plans, activities, and materials to bring planetary time into your classroom. All materials are standards-aligned and ready to use!
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đŹđ§ Perfect for UK Schools
England
â Year 5 Earth and Space - Perfect alignment with National Curriculum requirements
KS3 Space Physics coverage
Scotland
Curriculum for Excellence sciences outcomes
SCN 2-06a through Advanced Higher
Wales
Science & Technology Area progression steps
Progression Steps 2-5 coverage
N. Ireland
The World Around Us framework
KS1-3 Earth and Space topics
â Special Highlight: Year 5 Teachers
Our "Introduction to Planetary Time" lesson perfectly meets the statutory requirement: "Describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun" - but extends it to ALL planets!
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Introduction to Planetary Time
Students discover that age is relative to planetary motion! They'll calculate their ages on different planets and explore why time works differently throughout our solar system.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Calculate their age on different planets using an age calculator
- â˘Understand that 'year' means different things on different planets
- â˘Explain why they'd be 'older' on some planets and 'younger' on others
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘NGSS 5-ESS1-2 (Scale properties of solar system)
- â˘CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NBT.A.2 (Powers of 10)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: Year 5 Earth and Space - Describe movement of Earth and other planets relative to the Sun
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: SCN 2-06a - Understanding of size, scale, time and relative motion within solar system
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Progression Step 3 - Explain how position, movement of Sun, Earth and Moon affect life
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS2 The World Around Us - Earth and Space
Planetary Rotation and Days
Students dive deeper into planetary rotation, discovering that 'day' can mean different things and exploring the fascinating physics behind planetary spin.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Distinguish between sidereal rotation and solar day
- â˘Calculate day lengths on different planets
- â˘Understand why gas giants have different rotation rates at different latitudes
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘NGSS MS-ESS1-2 (Earth-sun-moon system)
- â˘NGSS MS-PS4-2 (Wave properties)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS3 Space Physics - Our solar system, gravity holds planets in orbit
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: SCN 3-06a - Explain relationship between Sun, Earth and Moon affects Earth
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Progression Step 4 - Explain how objects in natural world are related
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS3 Earth and Space - The Earth, Sun and Moon
Seasons and Axial Tilt
Students explore how the tilt of a planet's axis creates seasons and discover that seasonal experiences vary dramatically across our solar system.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Explain how axial tilt creates seasons
- â˘Compare seasonal lengths on different planets
- â˘Understand why gas giants have different seasonal patterns
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘NGSS MS-ESS1-2 (Earth-sun-moon system)
- â˘Geography: Understanding climate patterns
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS3 Space Physics - The seasons and the Earth's tilt
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: SCN 3-06a - Solar system formation and planetary relationships
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Progression Step 4 - Explain relationships in natural world
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS3 Earth and Space - The seasons
Introduction to Solar System
A gentle introduction to planetary time concepts for young learners, focusing on wonder and basic understanding that time works differently across the solar system.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Name all 8 planets in order
- â˘Understand that planets are different sizes and distances from the sun
- â˘Recognize that time works differently on each planet
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘NGSS 1-ESS1-1 (Use observations to describe patterns)
- â˘NGSS 2-ESS1-1 (Use information to describe Earth's features)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS1 Science - Seasonal changes, day length varies
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: SCN 1-06a - Observing solar system features
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Progression Step 2 - Variety of living things in different places
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS1 The World Around Us - Change over time
Advanced Orbital Mechanics
Advanced students explore the mathematical foundations of orbital mechanics and apply physics principles to understand planetary motion and time.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Apply Kepler's Third Law to calculate orbital periods
- â˘Explain why orbital period increases with distance from sun
- â˘Calculate the gravitational force between celestial bodies
- + 2 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘HS-ESS1-4 (Use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation)
- â˘HS-PS2-4 (Use math representations of gravitational forces)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: A-Level Physics - Circular motion Ď = 2Ď/T, gravitational fields
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: Advanced Higher Physics - Newton's Law of Gravitation, Kepler's Laws
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Progression Step 5 - Evaluate scientific evidence and knowledge use
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: A-Level Physics - Space physics, orbital mechanics
Cross-Curricular: Time & Mathematics
Students strengthen math skills while exploring planetary time, using ratios, proportions, and percentages to understand time relationships across the solar system.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Set up and solve proportions related to planetary time
- â˘Convert between different planetary time scales
- â˘Use ratios to compare orbital periods
- + 2 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3 (Ratios and proportions)
- â˘CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.RP.A.2 (Complex fractions)
- â˘NGSS MS-ESS1-3 (Solar system scale)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS2 Maths - Ratio and proportion, KS2 Science Earth and Space
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: SCN 2-06a - Understanding time and relative motion in solar system
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Progression Step 3-4 - Mathematical relationships in science
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS2 Numeracy and KS2 World Around Us
Creative Writing - Science Fiction
Students combine scientific knowledge with creative writing, crafting science fiction stories that explore how different planetary time experiences might affect characters and plots.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Write a narrative incorporating accurate planetary time science
- â˘Develop characters who experience time differently
- â˘Use sensory details to describe alien time experiences
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3 (Narrative writing)
- â˘NGSS MS-ESS1-2 (Earth-sun-moon system)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS2-3 English - Creative writing, narrative techniques
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: Literacy and English - Creative writing and imaginative texts
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Languages, Literacy and Communication - Creative writing
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: Language and Literacy - Creative writing and narratives
Social Studies - Time Zones and Global Perspectives
Students connect Earth's time zones to the broader concept of planetary time, developing global awareness and understanding of how rotation affects time measurement.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Explain how Earth's rotation creates time zones
- â˘Compare Earth time zones to planetary time differences
- â˘Understand how different cultures track time differently
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7 (Multiple sources of information)
- â˘Social Studies: Geography, Global Awareness
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS2 Geography - Human and physical geography, global contexts
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: Social Studies - People, place and environment
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Humanities - Understanding places, spaces and human actions
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS2 The World Around Us - Place, interdependence
Art Integration - Visualizing Time
Students use visual arts to express and understand planetary time concepts, creating artwork that demonstrates their comprehension while exercising creativity.
Learning Objectives:
- â˘Create a visual representation of planetary time
- â˘Use art to show abstract concepts (time, age, seasons)
- â˘Incorporate accurate scientific information into artwork
- + 1 more objectives
đşđ¸ US Standards (NGSS):
- â˘VA:Cr1.1.3a (Elaborate on an imaginative idea)
- â˘NGSS K-ESS1-1 (Patterns in the sky)
đŹđ§ UK Standards:
- â˘đ ENGLAND: KS1-2 Art and Design - Creative responses to experiences
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó łó Łó ´ó ż SCOTLAND: Expressive Arts - Visual art forms and creative processes
- â˘đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż WALES: Expressive Arts - Exploring creative work and processes
- â˘đ N.IRELAND: KS1-2 The Arts - Visual arts and creative expression
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