Seasonal Constellations

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Space Exploration|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_9VZem2vUqk

Recognise named constellations visible in different seasons and understand why we see different constellations at different times of year — because Earth’s orbit around the Sun changes which part of the sky we face at night

Mastery Evidence

Name at least three constellations (e.g. Orion, Ursa Major/Big Dipper, Leo, Cassiopeia)
State that different constellations are visible in different seasons
Explain that this happens because Earth's orbit means we face different directions in space at different times of year

Assessment Prompt

“Does [child] know that you can see different constellations in winter than in summer, and can they explain why?”

Prerequisites2

Spotting Constellations
hardAges 5—7
Earth's Spin & Orbit
hardAges 7—9

Show full prerequisite tree

Spotting Constellations hard
Must recognise basic constellations before understanding seasonal changes in visibility
- Sun, Moon & Stars hard
  Must know stars are sky objects before recognising patterns among them
  - Why seasons change soft
    Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification
    - Naming the Planets soft
      Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
    - Seasonal changes soft
      Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition
      - Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
Earth's Spin & Orbit hard
Must understand Earth's orbit before explaining why different constellations appear in different seasons
- Seasons & Weather Patterns soft
  Seasons concept benefits from knowing Earth orbits Sun
  - Seasonal changes soft
    Seasons/weather patterns parallels curriculum four seasons topic
    - Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
      Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
      - Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
  - Types of Weather soft
    Seasons benefit from weather vocabulary
- The Sun is a star hard
  Must know the Sun-centred system before understanding Earth's rotation and orbit within it
  - Sun, Moon & Stars hard
    Must know the Sun is a sky object before learning it is a star
    - Why seasons change soft
      Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification
      - Naming the Planets soft
        Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
      - Seasonal changes soft
        Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition
        
        Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
  - Our Solar System hard
    Must know about the solar system before learning the Sun is at its centre
    - Sun, Moon & Stars hard
      Must know the Sun and stars before learning about planets and the solar system
      - Why seasons change soft
        Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification
        
        Naming the Planets soft
        Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
        
        Seasonal changes soft
        Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition
        
        Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
        Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
        
        Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically

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