Day & Night Cycle Activities for 5th Grade Science

This elementary Earth and space science unit helps students understand Earth’s rotation on its axis and how it causes the day/night cycle and the movement of the Sun across the sky, resulting in changes in shadows. It includes presentations, worksheets, choice projects, and assessments, all of which are editable and require little preparation. The lesson promotes differentiated, student-led learning, providing more support where needed.

The lesson follows the 5E Model and covers engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation stages. Students will explore topics like how Earth rotates every 24 hours and how this impacts shadows and daylight patterns through hands-on, differentiated station labs. Activities include reading comprehension, videos, research tasks, and open-ended questions. PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and assessment questions are available in both English and Spanish. 

Projects allow students to apply their learning, and assessment materials are updated for STAAR 2.0. The lesson is adaptable for in-class or virtual environments, offering maximum flexibility for diverse learning needs and styles. The lesson is aligned with TEKS 5.9 and includes resources for effective classroom management.

This student-led station lab aligns with TEKS 5.9 and focuses on Earth’s rotation, the day/night cycle, and changes in shadow patterns. Designed for 5th-grade students, the lab encourages independent learning with nine modular, differentiated stations. The activities help students understand how Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours, explaining the causes of the day/night cycle and the movement of the Sun across the sky. Students will explore how shadows change throughout the day, connecting new concepts through a variety of tasks.

Each station offers different ways to engage with the material. Activities include watching a video about shadow changes, reading passages with comprehension questions, and manipulating images in digital formats. Students will also research the relationship between light intensity and shadow length, perform hands-on tasks, and illustrate their learning by drawing models of shadow changes. Additionally, they will communicate their understanding through written responses and assessments, reinforcing key concepts in a structured and interactive way.

The station lab promotes student-centered learning, allowing students to complete activities independently or in small groups. It’s designed to be flexible for both in-person and virtual learning environments. With minimal prep required, this resource saves teachers time while fostering active, hands-on learning that enhances understanding of Earth science concepts related to the day/night cycle and shadow patterns.

The Day and Night Cycle Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS Earth and Space Science standard 5.9, offering 5th graders the option to select a project that suits their preferred output style. The project page includes six student-led project options, plus a “design your own” choice, and an editable rubric for assessment by teachers, peers, or the students themselves.

These projects are flexible and dynamic, with teachers able to adjust the rubric to fit grading needs. The multimodal options allow students to demonstrate their understanding in creative and personalized ways. 

The resource includes a choice board with nine project options, a teacher directions page, and an editable rubric that evaluates vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy. It also provides differentiated options for students needing remediation and challenge. Most projects require basic classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, and many can be completed digitally.