Worksheet

River-Mouth Sky Predictions

Graph river-mouth observations of shadows and seasonal stars, then use sunrise and sunset data to explain and predict sky patterns.

Grade 5ScienceInteractive · Printable

Aligned to5-ESS1-2

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What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 NGSS standard
Printable answer key
14 questions
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Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 5
Subject: Science
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Short answer, Drawing

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students graph shadow measurements and use the daily pattern to make predictions.
Students interpret sunrise and sunset data to describe repeating patterns of day and night.
Students graph seasonal star observations and use evidence to evaluate predictions.

How to use

Read the observation notebook together. Have students make both graphs independently, then support their predictions with measurements and seasonal counts.

Curriculum

NGSS standard covered

5-ESS1-2

Graph data to show daily patterns in shadows and day and night, and seasonal patterns in the stars we see.

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Name Date

River-Mouth Sky Predictions

Graph observations and use patterns to predict what observers might see.

1. Shadows at the Overlook

Read the notebook. Use the shadow measurements to make a graph and answer the questions.

The River-Mouth Observation Notebook

Where a river enters a large lake in the northern United States, a raised overlook gives visitors an open view of the sky. A science club uses the overlook to collect observations. The club wants to help visitors choose when to return for another observation. Its notebook includes three kinds of records: shadow measurements, sunrise and sunset times, and sightings of a star pattern called Orion. Each record describes observations at this one location, not conditions everywhere on Earth.

On a clear fall day, the club placed a 20-centimeter post upright on level ground. Members measured from the base of the post to the tip of its shadow. They left the post in the same spot and measured with the same ruler each hour. Their measurements were: 9 a.m., 40 centimeters; 10 a.m., 30 centimeters; 11 a.m., 26 centimeters; noon, 24 centimeters; 1 p.m., 26 centimeters; 2 p.m., 30 centimeters; and 3 p.m., 40 centimeters. They recorded only these seven times. They watched the shadow rather than looking directly at the Sun.

For three nearby fall days, the club also recorded sunrise and sunset times from a local observation station. Those times were rounded to the nearest hour. Earth turns on its axis about once every 24 hours. Sunlight reaches the side facing the Sun, while the side facing away has night. A graph can help the club compare the timing of these events from one day to the next.

The star records came from a full year. Members checked for Orion at 9 p.m. on six clear nights in each season. They used the same overlook, with no trees or buildings blocking the view. They recorded whether Orion’s main pattern was visible. Earth also travels around the Sun during the year. These star records concern only Orion at the chosen observing time; the club did not count every star pattern in the sky.

Make a line graph of the seven shadow measurements. Label the horizontal axis Time and the vertical axis Shadow length (cm). Show 0 to 40 centimeters in equal steps of 5. Plot all seven measurements in time order and connect neighboring points. Add a title.

How many centimeters shorter was the shadow at noon than at 9 a.m.? centimeters

Based on the measurements around noon, which is the most reasonable prediction for the shadow length at 12:30 p.m. that day?

A. 39 centimeters
B. 30 centimeters
C. 25 centimeters
D. 40 centimeters

The shortest recorded shadow was at noon. Which added measurements would best check whether an even shorter shadow occurred between the recorded times?

A. Measure at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
B. Measure at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
C. Measure at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
D. Measure again at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

A visitor claims, “The shadow kept getting shorter throughout the observation period.” Select the observation that shows the claim is incorrect.

From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., it changed from 40 to 30 centimeters.From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., it changed from 26 to 30 centimeters.From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., it changed from 30 to 26 centimeters.From 11 a.m. to noon, it changed from 26 to 24 centimeters.

2. When to Return

Use the graph of three nearby fall days. Each bar shows an event's time, rounded to the nearest hour. On this scale, 6 means 6 a.m. and 18 means 6 p.m.

About how many hours passed from sunset on Day 1 to sunset on Day 2? hours

At 8 p.m. on Day 3, which condition would the club expect?

A. Daytime, because sunrise had already happened.
B. Nighttime, because sunset had already happened.
C. Daytime, because the sunset bar is taller.
D. Nighttime, because sunrise was two hours earlier.

Which rounded times are the best prediction for Day 4, the very next day?

A. Sunrise near 6 p.m.; sunset near 6 a.m.
B. Sunrise near noon; sunset near midnight.
C. Sunrise near 8 a.m.; sunset near 8 p.m.
D. Sunrise near 6 a.m.; sunset near 6 p.m.

A club member subtracts 6 from 18 and says, “One complete day-and-night cycle lasted 12 hours.” What does the subtraction actually show?

A. About 12 hours passed from sunrise to sunset.
B. About 12 hours passed from one sunrise to the next.
C. Earth completed two full turns during those hours.
D. The Sun rose 12 hours later on the following day.

3. A Year of Evening Visits

Use the seasonal counts below and the observation notebook. Make a graph, evaluate predictions, and explain your reasoning.

Orion visible at 9 p.m., out of six clear observing nights per season:
Winter: 6 nights
Spring: 3 nights
Summer: 0 nights
Fall: 2 nights

10.

Make a bar graph of the Orion observations. Label the horizontal axis Season and the vertical axis Nights Orion was visible. Use a scale from 0 to 6 in steps of 1. Include all four seasons and add a title.

11.

Which plan would make next year's observations most directly comparable to this year's seasonal counts?

A. Check at 9 p.m. on six winter nights and twelve summer nights.
B. Check on six clear nights per season, using a different time each season.
C. Check at 9 p.m. from the overlook on six clear nights per season.
D. Check at 9 p.m. on six cloudy nights per season from the overlook.

12.

A visitor wants the better chance of seeing Orion at 9 p.m. next year. Which prediction is best supported by the records?

A. Summer is more promising than winter, based on the counts.
B. Winter is more promising than summer, based on the counts.
C. Both seasons are equally promising because the sky was clear.
D. Neither season is promising because Orion was sometimes absent.

13.

A visitor says, “The summer count of zero proves that no star patterns can be seen here in summer.” Which evaluation is best?

A. The claim is supported because clear skies hide summer star patterns.
B. The claim is supported because Orion represents every star pattern.
C. The claim is unsupported because zero means the club skipped summer.
D. The claim is unsupported because the club checked only Orion at 9 p.m.

14.

A visitor says, “Once I measure the shadow and spot Orion here, I know what I will see at any time or season.” Explain why one visit is not enough. Use two shadow measurements and two seasonal Orion counts as evidence.