What the Sun Does to the Ground
A 45-minute Kindergarten lesson on observing and measuring what sunlight does to the surfaces around the school.
What the Sun Does to the Ground is a free 45-minute Kindergarten science lesson plan for Common Core standard K-PS3-1 — find out what sunlight does to the ground. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 45 minutes
- Standard:
- K-PS3-1
Kindergarten · Physical Science
K-PS3-1
Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
Objective
Students will be able to compare a sunny surface with a shady one and say what the sunlight did.
Students are successful when they can
- Reports what a sunny and a shady surface felt or measured.
- Says which was warmer.
- Explains the difference by the sunlight rather than by the material.
What you need
- Two or three thermometers, or hands and honest words
- A sunny and a shady spot of the same surface
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — two steps, one stone
5 min- Ask which is warmer: a step in the sun or a step in the shade.
- Ask how the class could find out rather than guess.
Teach — same stone, different sun
12 min- Read the two-steps record together: 28 degrees in the sun, 19 in the shade.
- Ask what was the same about the steps. Both are the same stone.
- Ask what was different. Only whether sunlight fell on them.
- Say what follows: the sunlight is what made the difference.
- Warn off the wrong reason: it is not that one step is a different colour or stone.
- Ask what would happen to the shady step if the shade moved.
“Same stone, same time. What was different?”
Investigate — go outside
15 min- Take the class outside to a surface that is partly sunny and partly shaded.
- Pairs feel both parts and, if there is a thermometer, read both.
- They say which is warmer and mark it on a simple sheet.
- Ask one pair to find a third spot and predict before touching it.
Independent practice
10 min- Students complete the 'What the Sun Does to the Ground' page.
- Read the record aloud before they answer.
Close
3 min- Ask where in the playground you would sit on a hot day, and why.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Says the sun makes everything hot equally.
Why: The sun is up there for everybody.
Fix: The shady step had the same sun in the sky and stayed cool. What matters is where the light lands.
Explains the difference by the colour of the stone.
Why: Colour is a visible difference.
Fix: Both steps are the same stone. Read the record again.
Thinks shade is a cold thing that comes from somewhere.
Why: Shade feels like a substance.
Fix: Shade is where the light does not reach. Block the light with a hand and watch.
If they are not there yet
- Hands rather than thermometers, with the words warm and cool given.
- One pair of spots rather than three.
If they finish early
- Predict what the sunny spot will do by home time.
- Find a surface where the difference is biggest.
- Say why the school bins are put in the shade.
Exit ticket
Two steps are made of the same stone. One is in the sun and one in the shade. Which is warmer, and why?
What to look for: The sunny step, because sunlight fell on it. An answer about colour or material means the same-stone point needs another run.
Printable practice for K-PS3-1
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- What the Sun Does to the GroundRead the record, then answer the questions.
Questions about What the Sun Does to the Ground
How long does the What the Sun Does to the Ground lesson take?
45 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 12 min, investigate 15 min, independent practice 10 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does What the Sun Does to the Ground teach?
K-PS3-1 — K-PS3-1, Physical Science for Kindergarten: “Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.” In plain terms, find out what sunlight does to the ground.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Two or three thermometers, or hands and honest words, a sunny and a shady spot of the same surface and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: says the sun makes everything hot equally; explains the difference by the colour of the stone and thinks shade is a cold thing that comes from somewhere. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Two steps are made of the same stone. One is in the sun and one in the shade. Which is warmer, and why?.” The sunny step, because sunlight fell on it. An answer about colour or material means the same-stone point needs another run. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with What the Sun Does to the Ground?
Yes — 1 printable K-PS3-1 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is What the Sun Does to the Ground free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 8 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Aligned to K-PS3-1 of the Next Generation Science Standards.