Lesson plan of a field Geography lesson for 6th grade students

Topic: The apparent movement of the Sun on the celestial sphere - the rotation of the
Earth

FORMS OF WORK:
Group, individual.

METHODS:
The usage of a gnomon, field observation

TEACHING RESOURCES:
gnomon
string
colored chalk

CLASS LOCATION:
around the school
Note: It must be a sunny day, preferably around the autumn equinox (September 23)

IMPLEMENTATION OF CLASSES:
Duration: 1 class hour.
The lesson should be completed in the first semester of grade 6.
The scenario below can also be modified and implemented as part of extracurricular activities.

AIMS:
Knowledge:
student
- knows and understands the concept of cardinal directions,
- knows how to determine cardinal directions using observations of the Sun during the day,
- knows Polish names and English abbreviations of cardinal directions,

Skills:
student
- can use the observation of the Sun to determine cardinal directions,
- knowing one cardinal direction can indicate the other directions,
- can use the compass rose to determine cardinal directions in the field,

Attitudes:
- conducting field observations,
- shaping cooperation in the group,
- developing the habit of responsibility for the results of group work,

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LESSON:

Preparatory phase:
1. Familiarizing students with the topic of the lesson.
2. Reminder of the rules of appropriate behavior during field lessons.
3. Division of duties, assigning students to carry the necessary equipment
4. Leaving school for the school site (entries in the exit log)

Implementation phase:
1. Going to the school playground.
2. Set up the gnomon and draw a trace of the length of the sun's shadow at the moment of arrival with
chalk on the ground. Recording the hour and minute.
3. The teacher asks the students if they think the position of the shadow will change?
Will the length increase or decrease?
Will the direction in which the shadow moves change?
They decide on their answers together and think about the correct answer.
4. The teacher asks the students if they know where the Sun rose on that day. The students' task is to
indicate the direction of the sunrise.
5. What is the length of shadows during sunrise/sunset?
At what point in the day is the shadow shortest?
What does the time "noon" or "afternoon" have to do with the south -N direction?
...the time that passes during this talk allows you to observe the change in the position of the shadow
within 15 minutes.

15 minutes is a long time to notice the trend in which direction the Sun will move, and with it the shadow
of the gnomon. After 15 minutes you can judge what will happen next. Using a string, it is easy to measure
and predict the position of the shadow in a few hours and its probable length around 12:00 - when the Sun
rises - the so-called SUNNY NOON

The drawn shadow indicates NORTH.

After determining the NORTH direction, you can start determining the remaining main directions and then
intermediate ones.
Students draw a COMPASS ROSE on the ground:

6. The students' task is to draw the same rose in their notebook, provided that the N direction is at the top
of the paper.

7. The teacher once again checks the ability to indicate the directions of the world in the field. Students
turn in the designated direction.

Summary phase:
1. Students return to school.
2. Checking the drawings in students' notebooks.