Read a day-night model
Read a day-night model using supplied evidence and a solved model.
About 12 minutes, plus any extended practice
Supplied materials
- For younger learners, an adult may read each direction aloud; pointing, drawing and spoken explanations count as responses.
- Paper, drawing space or a browser document.
- Reference card A: marked location faces sunlight. Reference card B: marked location faces away.
- Assessment case 1: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Marked side receives sunlight.
- Assessment case 2: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Marked side is turned away.
- Assessment case 3: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Earth spins in the drawing.
- Assessment case 4: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Earth circles the Sun in drawing.
- Assessment case 5: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Location enters the lit side.
- Assessment case 6: Which scientific label fits the specifically described step or feature? Supplied case: Location moves onto the dark side.
Learn the idea
Earth spins, so a place alternately faces the Sun and turns away. The model marks one location. Day and night do not mean the Sun switches on and off.
Day means marked location faces sunlight. Night means marked location faces away. Rotation means Earth turning about its axis. Orbit means Earth moving around the Sun.
For day, look for the clue “marked location faces sunlight.” For night, look for “marked location faces away.” More than one process can happen in a real situation. Answer about the one described in this question.
- Read or listen to the four science words and what each means. Say how the first two differ.
- Choose two of the short cases. Point to the clue that helps you choose a science word for each one. You may draw or say your answer.
- Answer each practice question. Say which clue helped you, then check the explanation.
- Use the extra task to make two examples that show different science words. Draw or say what makes each one fit.
See the method in action
Worked reference-card problem: a card states “marked location faces sunlight”; a second states “marked location faces away.” The first fits day and the second fits night. The reason is the described function or change, not the order of the cards or a favorite name. If their descriptions exchange places, their category labels exchange too. Keep the supplied descriptions attached to the correct case.
Check your reasoning
Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.
Helpful tips
- Use the feature “marked location faces sunlight” to justify day; do not sort by the name alone.
- Distinguish night (marked location faces away) from a different process occurring in the same situation.
See the answer and explanation
day
The answer is day. In the notes, it means “marked location faces sunlight.” Earth spins, so a place alternately faces the Sun and turns away. The model marks one location. Day and night do not mean the Sun switches on and off.
Take it further
Create one new case showing day and one showing night. Expected: the first explicitly shows “marked location faces sunlight”; the second explicitly shows “marked location faces away.” Explain the distinction by drawing, speaking or writing. A label without a matching feature is incomplete.
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More practice: try new cases
Choose an answer for each problem. Explain your method on paper, then use the feedback to decide what to revisit.
Your choices are temporary. Feedback appears after you check all the answers.
Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. Keep your own notes or download them before leaving. The score describes these questions; it does not certify subject mastery.
Check the subject sources
These LifeStarter passages, scenarios and exercises are authored for this Academy with AI assistance and review. External resources keep their publishers’ terms. A grade label suggests a starting level; it does not establish alignment with your school’s complete requirements.