Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Medium · about 32 min
🪐 Earth, Sun & Moon
Pupils practise curiosity through "Earth, Sun & Moon": Day, night and the planets.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🪐 mission title and read the opening: "Why do we have day and night?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used curiosity today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Earth, Sun & Moon", and why?
- Why do we have day and night — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- How long does Earth take to orbit the Sun — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Why does the Moon seem to change shape — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use curiosity outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically plus the year-group topic
- National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
- National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
- PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information
Pupil sheet
🪐 Earth, Sun & Moon
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Why do we have day and night?
☐ Clouds cover the Sun
☐ Earth spins on its axis
☐ The Sun moves away
2. How long does Earth take to orbit the Sun?
☐ About 365 days
☐ One day
☐ One month
3. Order planets from the Sun.
___ Earth
___ Mars
___ Mercury
___ Venus
4. Why does the Moon seem to change shape?