Activity Instruction Page
Day and Night Around the World
- Activity Type: Hands-On Activity
- Theme: Around the World, Outer Space
- Learning Center: Social Studies & Emotional Dev
Children explore day and night through a globe activity. This preschool idea builds global awareness and understanding of different time zones.
Materials & Direction
Materials List:
– Globe or world map
– Pictures of children from different countries (optional)
– Sun and moon picture cards or props
– Picture books about children around the world (optional)
Preschool Learning Objectives:
– Understand the concept of day and night and how it varies around the world
– Develop global awareness by recognizing that children live in different time zones
– Identify similarities and differences in daily routines among children from various cultures
Preschool Teacher Instructions:
1. Explore the Globe
– Show children a globe and explain that people live all around the Earth.
2. Talk About Day and Night
– Ask children if it is daytime or nighttime right now. Show the sun and moon picture cards and discuss what we usually do during the day and at night.
3. Compare Around the World
– Point to a country on the opposite side of the globe. Explain that while we are awake at school, many children there may be sleeping because it is nighttime where they live.
4. Discuss Similarities
– Ask children what they think children in other countries do during the day. Guide the conversation toward similarities such as eating meals, playing, learning, spending time with family, and sleeping.
5. Wrap Up
– Remind children that although people around the world may have different times of day, everyone shares the same Earth.
Differentiation Tips:
– Beginning Learners: Simplified version of the activity or support ideas
– Use only one or two countries to compare day and night. Focus on visual aids like pictures of children from those countries.
– Developing Learners: Standard use with light guidance
– Encourage children to share their own experiences related to day and night, guiding them to think about routines in different cultures.
– Mastered Learners: Extensions or enrichment ideas
– Invite children to create a simple map showing where they think it is daytime or nighttime around the world.
Suggestions for Assessment:
– Observe children’s participation in discussions about day and night.
– Assess their ability to identify similarities and differences in daily routines through group conversations.
– Review drawings created by children depicting themselves during daytime and getting ready for bed to gauge understanding of the concepts discussed.
