Topic: 5E Earth, Sun and Moon

Science:

QCA Unit 5E Earth, Sun and Moon

· that the moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the Earth
· about the relative sizes of the Sun, Moon and Earth

Scientific enquiry
· consider what sources of information to use to answer questions
· use observations, measurements or other data to draw conclusions
· deciding whether the evidence supports the prediction and suggesting explanations in terms of their knowledge of science.
Literacy
· speaking and listening - putting together a case for a choice and discussing it with a group
· persuasive writing - write a letter to support ideas

Numeracy
· use data to draw circles of known radii.
· measuring, scale, converting measurements
· radius, diameter, circumference
· distances and speed of movement of satellites

What you need to do

Introducing the activity

· Display Page 1 of the activity through a data projector or on an OHT. Look at the images of both the children and the mother and read through the words they are saying. Ask the children if any of their parents have a Satellite Navigation system (or Sat Nav) in their cars.
Can the children explain what their parents use it for and whether it is a helpful gadget? Go on to explain how some scientists have been busy investigating a type of Sat Nav system for children to wear in order to try and increase their safety and try to reduce the number of children who either get lost or find themselves running late and with no way of telling their parents who are worrying back at home. Ask the children the questions presented at the foot of the page:
- How does this new track-it jacket work?
- Do you think this it is a good invention?
- Why might this be a popular gadget for all children to wear?

Leading the main activity

· Display Page 2 through a data projector or on an OHT. Using the children's initial responses from the previous page, assess and build on children's present knowledge and understanding by using the pictures and information identified. Highlight how, like the Moon, the satellites which have been placed in space by humans, orbit around the Earth and collect data sent up from the transmitter on the track-it jacket. Point out how more than one satellite can receive this data and they are those which are closest to the position of the child. Go on to explain how the satellites then send the data back down to Earth to the receiver within the mother's computer where it is combined to find an exact location within 4 metres.

Practical investigation

· Display Page 3 of the activity through a data projector or on an OHT. Print off copies for the children. Look closely at the map and explain how this is the map of the local area in which the boys and mother live. Explain how this map is shown on the mother's computer and discuss the different places where the boys could be located. Explain how they are going to plot the information received from the satellites. Usually the receiver does this.

· Display Page 4 of the activity through a data projector or on an OHT. Print off copies for the children. Describe how this shows the information the computer will receive from the satellites. Redisplay Page 3. Model on the board how to use a pair of compasses to draw a circle radiating from the centre of the identified location and taking into account the scale shown on the map. Go on to tell the children that this single circle is representative of the data received from only one satellite and that they must now repeat the same procedure for all other satellites. Explain that the circles will intersect and this will give information about the location of the boys. This is what would be shown on the map when the mother looks at the computer screen, the receiver would have interpreted all the data automatically.

Optional extension activity

· Display Page 5 through a data projector or on an OHT. Explain to the children that with all inventions there are always advantages and disadvantages and that different individuals have different opinions about whether they are appropriate or will be successful. Go on to explain that the overriding opinion of parents and children is that this jacket would be a good invention and that they should be made law for all children to wear. Tell the class that they are to write a persuasive letter to the Government minister for Health and Safety explaining how he should make it law for all children to wear the track-it jacket, using the recognised grammar and language features of this genre.

BBC News
The news story behind the activity

The Guardian
More info about the jacket - what it looks like and costs etc.

Global Positioning Systems
How Does GPS Work?

Teachers Domain
Satellites orbiting Earth

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