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The sky at night, Department of Basic Education. 2011. DBE Learner…
The sky at night
Natural Science
The moon changes shape
The moon appears to change shape during the month when sunlight strikes different sections of the moon (Taylor, I. and Connelly, D. 2025:9-13).
Learners observe the moon every night for a week and draw what they see. They compare their pictures and predict why moon change shape
Changing from day to night
The movement of the earth causes the sky to shift from day to night. (Kaler, J.B. 2002:1-2)
Learners observe the sky in the morning, afternoon, and evening and draw what they see. They compare the colours, lighting and objects seen in the sky.
Social Science
Cultural stories about moon and stars
Stories and beliefs about the moon and stars are different throughout cultures.
The teacher reads a simple African story about the moon. Learners discuss historical beliefs about the night sky and draw their favourite part of the story.
Night-time in our community
During the night, people engage in a variety of activitIes, such as sleeping, working and sightseeing. (Fiese, B.H. 2006:1-10)
Learners discuss about the things that their families do at night and day. Learners sort pictures into " day activities" and "night activities."
Technology
Making moon models to explain phases
Models helps us understand real-world objects and processes. (Kavanagh, C., Agan, L. and Sneider, C. 2005:19-52).
Learners use paper plates to build different moon phases and place them in sequence.
Exploring light and shadow
Light shines on an object, creating shadows and allowing us to see shapes. 9Barness, A., Donegan-Ritter, M., Fitzgerald, L.M., Miller, W. S., Peterson, S., Smith, B., Uhlenberg, J and Smith, S. 2022:47-76)
Learners investigate how a torch shines on a ball in a dark room to represent how sunlight lights up the moon.
Department of Basic Education. 2011. DBE Learner Workbook Grade 1 Life Skills Book 2 (Term 3&4)
Fiese, B. H. 2006. Family routines and rituals Yale University Press. [Assessed: 21 May 2026]
Reference list:
Department of Basic Education. South Africa. 2011. Curriculum of Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS): Foundation Phase. Grades R-3: English Life Skills. Pretoria: Government Printing Works.
Taylor, I. and Connelly, D. 2025. Teaching [hases of the moon, eclipses and tides to year 7-8 students, New Zealand Science Teacher, (109), pp. 9-13.
https://research.ebsco.com/pink/fdade9db-b2f7-3df9-954c-b0bc98321024
[Assessed: 21 May 2026].
Kaler, J. B.2002. The ever-changing sky: a guide to the celestial sphere. Cambridge University Press. [Assessed: 21 May 2026]
Barness, A., Donegan-Ritter, M., Fitzgerald, L.M., Miller, W.S., Peterson, S., Smith, B., Uhlenberg, J. and Schmitz, S., 2022. Investigating Light and Shadow with Young Children (Ages 3-8). Teachers College Press. [Assessed: 21 May 2026].
Kavanagh, C., Agan, L. and Sneider, C. 2005. Learning about phases of the moon and eclipses: A guide for teachers and curriculum developers. Astronomy Education Review, 4(1), pp19-52.