- Class: Primary 6
- Term: 1st Term
- Week: 3
- Age: 11 years
- Duration: 40 minutes
- Subject: Basic Science and Technology
- Curriculum Theme: Basic Science
- Previous Lesson: Solar System: Components and Location
- Topic: Solar System: The Earth’s Gravity
- Content: The Earth’s gravity and weightlessness in space.
Performance Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Cognitive Domain: Explain what gravity is and describe how it affects objects on Earth.
- Affective Domain: Show appreciation for the forces that keep us grounded on Earth.
- Psychomotor Domain: Illustrate the concept of weightlessness through simple activities.
- Social Domain: Discuss the importance of gravity in everyday life with peers.
Reference Materials
The following resources were used in planning this lesson:
- 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum
- Abuja Educational Resource Centre Scheme of work
- NAPPS National Unified Scheme of Work
- Online Information from Britannica – Gravity – Acceleration, Earth, Moon
- Relevant Textbooks
Instructional Materials
The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:
- Pictures of astronauts in space and people on Earth
- Video clips demonstrating gravity and weightlessness
- A ball and a feather
- A chart showing the solar system
Rationale for the Lesson
Understanding the Earth’s gravity is essential as it helps pupils grasp fundamental scientific concepts that explain why objects fall and how they stay on the ground. This knowledge is relevant in daily life, especially when understanding phenomena such as weight and balance.
Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge
Pupils already know the components and location of the solar system and can identify Earth as a planet that revolves around the Sun.
Instructional Procedures
Learning Area: Solar System: The Earth’s Gravity
To deliver this lesson, the teacher will adopt the following steps:
| Content Development | Time | Teaching Method | Teaching Strategy | Teacher’s Activity | Pupils’ Activity | Learning Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Introduction – Set Induction | 5 mins | Discussion | Use visuals to engage pupils | The teacher displays pictures of astronauts in space and people on Earth. | Pupils observe the pictures and respond to questions about what they see. | Introduction to gravity and weightlessness. |
| Step 2: Explanation of Gravity | 10 mins | Lecture | Interactive Lecture | The teacher explains what gravity is using simple language and examples. | Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions for clarity. | Understanding gravity on Earth. |
| Step 3: Demonstration of Gravity | 5 mins | Demonstration | Visual and Hands-on | The teacher drops a ball and a feather to show how gravity affects objects. | Pupils observe and predict which object will hit the ground first. | Visualizing the effects of gravity. |
| Step 4: Explanation of Weightlessness | 7 mins | Lecture | Use video clips | The teacher shows a video of astronauts experiencing weightlessness. | Pupils watch the video and discuss how different it looks from Earth. | Understanding weightlessness in space. |
| Step 5: Activity on Weightlessness | 5 mins | Group Activity | Group Discussion | The teacher divides pupils into groups to discuss why astronauts float. | Pupils discuss in groups and share their thoughts. | Collaborative understanding of concepts. |
| Step 6: Note-taking | 3 mins | Lecture | Guided note-taking | The teacher provides notes for pupils to copy. | Pupils copy the notes into their exercise books. | Reinforcing the lesson content. |
| Step 7: Evaluation and Conclusion | 5 mins | Question and Answer | Recap key points | The teacher asks questions to assess understanding and wraps up the lesson. | Pupils answer the questions and participate in the conclusion discussion. | Assessing pupils’ understanding. |
Lesson Content
Solar System: Earth’s Gravity
Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the Earth. This means that when you drop something, like a pen, it falls to the ground because of gravity. Gravity is why we stay on the ground and don’t float away.
In space, astronauts experience weightlessness because there is less gravity. This is why they float around in their spacecraft. You can think of gravity as an invisible hand that holds you down to the Earth.
Lesson Evaluation
To evaluate the learning, the teacher asks pupils to:
- What is gravity?
- How does gravity affect objects on Earth?
- Why do astronauts float in space?
- Describe one activity that can show the effect of gravity.
- Why is gravity important to us?
