Year 2 Science · AC9S2U01

Earth in the Solar System & Patterns in the Sky

Recognise Earth as a planet and use repeated observations to identify patterns in the changing positions and appearances of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars

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Learning goalsSay it simply

Students learn two connected ideas: Earth is a planet in the solar system, and careful observations made over time reveal regular patterns in the sky.

  • Recognise Earth as one of the eight planets in the solar system.
  • Identify the Sun as a star and the Moon as Earth's natural satellite.
  • Use space images and models to describe Earth and its place in the solar system.
  • Compare what can be observed in daytime and nighttime skies.
  • Observe how the Sun's apparent position and shadow length change during the day.
  • Record the Moon across many days and identify a repeating pattern in its visible illuminated portion.
  • Distinguish short-term daily patterns from longer monthly and seasonal patterns.
  • Explore First Nations Australian sky knowledges respectfully as diverse, place-based knowledge traditions.
Big idea: one observation tells us what happened at one time. Repeated observations let us compare, identify a pattern and make a sensible prediction.
Clean visual examplesOne-page board

Clean one-page examples

AC9S2U01 - Earth in the Solar System & Patterns in the Sky
Example 1

Shadow tracker Measure one object's shadow at 3–4 times during a clear day. Order the lengths and predict what will happen later.

Example 2

Moon diary Record dated Moon observations for several weeks and discuss gaps when clouds block the view.

Example 3

Day/night sky sort Sort observations into daytime, nighttime and “sometimes both”, then justify each placement.

Example 4

Model critique Use a solar-system model, then ask what it shows well and what it does not show to scale.

Curriculum examplesCurriculum examples

Content description: recognise Earth is a planet in the solar system and identify patterns in the changing position of the sun, moon, planets and stars in the sky.

  1. E1 — Celestial objects: identify the Sun, Moon, stars and planets.
  2. E2 — Earth from space: view images or video, describe Earth's shape and discuss how those images were taken.
  3. E3 — Solar-system representations: explore models and identify Earth and other planets.
  4. E4 — Day and night observations: compare phenomena that are easier or possible to observe at different times.
  5. E5 — Shadows: investigate changing shadow length, identify patterns and make predictions.
  6. E6 — Moon diary: record the Moon across a month, identify changes and make predictions.
  7. E7 — Time-lapse: observe apparent movement of the Sun, Moon, stars or satellites.
  8. E8 — Timescales: describe short-term and longer-term sky patterns.
  9. E9 — Regular and irregular events: distinguish regular lunar phases from less-common named Moon events.
  10. E10 — First Nations sky knowledges: explore cultural stories that describe patterns in changing positions of the Sun, Moon and stars.
Curriculum alignmentStart here

Students learn two connected ideas: Earth is a planet in the solar system, and careful observations made over time reveal regular patterns in the sky.

  • Recognise Earth as one of the eight planets in the solar system.
  • Identify the Sun as a star and the Moon as Earth's natural satellite.
  • Use space images and models to describe Earth and its place in the solar system.
  • Compare what can be observed in daytime and nighttime skies.
  • Observe how the Sun's apparent position and shadow length change during the day.
  • Record the Moon across many days and identify a repeating pattern in its visible illuminated portion.
  • Distinguish short-term daily patterns from longer monthly and seasonal patterns.
  • Explore First Nations Australian sky knowledges respectfully as diverse, place-based knowledge traditions.
Big idea: one observation tells us what happened at one time. Repeated observations let us compare, identify a pattern and make a sensible prediction.
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