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Lesson overview

GROW · Science · Week 9A · Explore

Spherical Bodies: Shape Evidence

Sequence outcome: Describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies.

🎯 Learning objective: I can use observations from different viewpoints to describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies.
✅ Success criteria
  • Distinguish a flat disc from a three-dimensional sphere.
  • Use more than one viewpoint as shape evidence.
  • Explain why approximately spherical is more accurate than perfect sphere.
Arrival · retrieve last lessonStarter · create the need to knowI Do · picture firstWe Do · everyone commitsI Do 2 · connect the second ideaWe Do 2 · interactive labIndependent · evidence of learningExit ticket · response becomes the next step
🧪 Shape Evidence: can one circular picture prove a body is spherical?⏱ 40 minutes🔁 Live Lundy loop↺ Retry without penalty
🔎DISC VERSUSSPHEREuse evidence🧠MORE THANONE VIEWPOINTuse evidence🧪APPROXIMATELYSPHERICALuse evidence
🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🚪 Arrival · retrieve last lesson
Retrieve only what has already been taught
  1. Last lesson, the rotating globe model used Earth's curved body to separate a lit half from an unlit half.
  2. Prior week: point to or describe one useful model.
  3. Older learning: what makes an observation useful as evidence?
  4. Lead-in: what do you notice in today’s first picture?
New to this class, absent, or not sure? Everything needed is in the retrieval box above. Read it, point to it or ask a familiar adult to read it exactly.
◆ Supported
  1. Last lesson: point to the lit half of the globe.
  2. Last lesson: show one full rotation with your hand.
  3. Earlier space learning: name the star at the centre of our solar system.
  4. Lead-in: feel or imagine a coin and a ball; which is three-dimensional all the way around?
▲ Standard
  1. Last lesson: why did the globe model have a day side and a night side?
  2. Last lesson: what stayed fixed while Earth rotated?
  3. Earlier space learning: name the three bodies in the Sun-Earth-Moon system.
  4. Lead-in: how could a disc and sphere both look circular from one viewpoint?
★ Stretch
  1. Last lesson: connect Earth's rotation to the curved day-night boundary.
  2. Last lesson: state one limitation of the lamp-and-globe model.
  3. Earlier space learning: compare a planet, moon and star without using size alone.
  4. Lead-in: propose evidence that would separate a disc claim from a sphere claim.
Equivalent response routes
☝ point / choose🗣 say / sign🧩 demonstrate⌨ type / exact scribe↺ re-attempt
🔊 Read-aloud route: a familiar adult may read the task exactly while the text remains visible. No device voice or media permission is required.
🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🌱 Starter · create the need to know

A distant body looks like a circle in one photograph. What shape do you predict it is? First ideas are held, not marked.

LOCAL VISUAL HOOK · FRAME 1
Observation 1: both have a round front outline.
OBJECT AOBJECT BVIEW: FRONT
From the front, A and B look the same: a circle.
LOCAL VISUAL HOOK · FRAME 2
Observation 2: after a quarter turn, A looks oval; B still looks round.
OBJECT AOBJECT BVIEW: QUARTER
One turn, two different results. Evidence.
LOCAL VISUAL HOOK · FRAME 3
Observation 3: from the edge, A is a thin line; B still looks round.
OBJECT AOBJECT BVIEW: EDGE
A flat disc hides. A sphere looks round from every side.

Commit one first idea. Predictions are held, not marked. Pointing, selecting, saying or signing all count.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 5 min
👩‍🏫 I Do · picture first

Make the first scientific idea visible

SPHEREball shapea three-dimensional shape with a curved surface around a centre
DISCflat circlea thin, flat circular shape
APPROXIMATELYclose tonearly, but not exactly

WHAT THIS MODEL HELPS US SEE

Use the comparison frame: When turned, the disc __, but the sphere __. Therefore…

WHAT THIS MODEL DOES NOT SHOW

A smooth classroom ball hides mountains, valleys, craters and slight flattening. It models overall shape only.

Step 1

Hold a flat disc and a ball front-on. Record honestly that both outlines can look circular.

Step 2

Turn each object by a quarter turn and then edge-on. Record how the disc outline changes but the ball's outline stays round.

Step 3

Conclude from several views: repeated round outlines support a sphere; a single circle does not prove it.

Word help keeps the scientific term visible and adds a plain-language bridge.

🔭 Viewpoint viewer · turn both objects together

Same turn for both. Say what you SEE before you say what it IS.

OBJECT AOBJECT BVIEW: FRONT
Front: A looks round. B looks round. Not enough evidence yet.
Real space evidence uses the same idea: photographs of Earth from many directions all show a round outline, and the Moon's lit edge is always curved. Approximately spherical — not perfect: Earth bulges slightly at the equator.
🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 5 min
🤝 We Do · everyone commits

Which observation best separates a sphere from a flat disc?

Everyone commits before explanation.

Use a button, point, say/sign or let an adult operate the chosen button. A retry is information, not a penalty.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
👩‍🏫 I Do 2 · connect the second idea

Connect the model to the second idea

Connection: the model is useful when its visible pattern is translated into a scientific explanation.
Connection 1

The ball-and-disc test shows what two shapes can look like, but it is only a model. Check it against real observations.

Connection 2

Real Earth and Moon evidence: changing spacecraft views keep showing round whole-body outlines. During a lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow on the Moon is curved.

Connection 3

Real Sun evidence: its edge is curved and features move across its face as it rotates. Together the observations support approximately spherical bodies; gravity makes large bodies nearly round, rotation slightly flattens them and surface features add small bumps.

MODEL STRENGTH

Use the comparison frame: When turned, the disc __, but the sphere __. Therefore…

MODEL LIMIT

A smooth classroom ball hides mountains, valleys, craters and slight flattening. It models overall shape only.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🤝 We Do 2 · interactive lab

Shape evidence sorter

Sort model observations and real space evidence. Use both kinds before making the shape claim.

Select an observation card.Commit it to disc, sphere or real space evidence.Use the feedback to compare what was seen.Freeze model and real evidence, then state the shape claim.

Cards to place

Matching groups

No observations sorted yet. A classroom model is useful, but a real-world claim also needs real observations.

🧩 Science glitch · find and repair it

Claim: Evidence glitch: Earth looks circular in one photograph, so that photograph proves it is a sphere.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 10 min
✏️ Independent · evidence of learning

Create a multi-view evidence case that distinguishes a disc from a sphere and applies the conclusion to the Sun, Earth and Moon.

👐 Physical route

Ball, safe card disc or large counter, viewing mat, three-view recording strip and pencil.

Same outcome: I can use observations from different viewpoints to describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies.

🖥 Offline digital / director route

Use the included front, quarter and edge frames plus the local spacecraft, eclipse and curved day-night-edge cards. Mark which evidence shows the clearest difference.

Same evidence: A three-view model comparison, one cited real space observation and a conclusion naming the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical.

🧰 Equipment / setupBall, safe card disc or large counter, viewing mat, three-view recording strip and pencil.
🛡 Safety / sensoryUse large objects that cannot be swallowed. Keep objects on the table and do not throw or shine lights at anyone.
🖥 Offline parityUse the included front, quarter and edge frames plus the local spacecraft, eclipse and curved day-night-edge cards. Mark which evidence shows the clearest difference.
No-equipment/access route: Use printed silhouettes for front, quarter and edge views, or trace around a cup lid and a ball shown by an adult.

◆ Supported

Sort six view cards, then complete: A disc changes from __ to __. A sphere stays __.

Scaffold

Use picture choices and the words disc, sphere, flat, round. An adult may scribe exact words.

▲ Standard

Record three views of each model, then add one real space observation before making the shape claim.

Scaffold

Use one model difference, one real observation and the phrase approximately spherical.

★ Stretch

Explain why one circular picture is insufficient and why perfect sphere is also too strong.

Scaffold

Discuss another possible shape, several pieces of evidence that agree and a model limitation.

Evidence gate

1 · Pupil decisionPrediction, question, method or choice is visible.
2 · Observable evidenceA result, source note, model state or adult observation is preserved.
3 · Pupil meaningA three-view model comparison, one cited real space observation and a conclusion naming the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical.
🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🎫 Exit ticket · response becomes the next step

Finish with evidence, a genuine Audience and one next step

Supported

Point or complete: a disc is __; a sphere is __. The Sun, Earth and Moon are close to __ shapes.

Standard

Use one model observation and one real space observation to explain why Earth is described as approximately spherical.

Stretch

Explain why both ‘flat disc’ and ‘perfect sphere’ are weaker than the scientific description.

Adult Audience

The familiar adult genuinely receives the pupil response, then says back the Science they heard or saw. The adult does not add a score or rewrite the pupil.

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

Session state is temporary. Reload clears responses; there is no account, upload or saved pupil identity.

⌂ Start
🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

Staff route

TA Brief · Lesson overview

Priority

Settle, wait and protect the learning goal.

Least-prompt move

Use the least prompt needed, then fade it.

Prompt ladder

WAITSELF-PROMPTVISUAL CUEGENERAL VERBALSPECIFIC VERBALMODELDIRECT SUPPORT
Read-aloud availability: a familiar adult can read the exact current task while the text remains visible. Device speech is intentionally omitted so the deck asks for no media permission and stays dependable offline.

Guidance and access

Live Lundy loop

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

Audience is real only when a familiar adult receives the response. Influence is real only when one next teaching move visibly changes.