Sea Cliff Fifth Graders Teach First Graders About Astronomy
Under the direction of STEAM (Science, Technology, Art, and Math) teacher Ms. Adrien Kaye, Sea Cliff School fifth graders took part in an exciting and educational hands-on Astronomy learning experience with their younger first grade peers. On February 26, 2025, first graders were thrilled to be brought up to the fifth-grade classrooms and hallways in Ms. Mazur/ Ms. Levy classes, Ms. Morley/Ms. Uanino classes, and Ms. Hild/Ms. O'Donnell and Ms. Stein classes.
Ms. Kaye said, “Both fifth and first grade students learn about astronomy as part of their science exploration, so this experience capitalizes on the spiraling nature of the Next Generation Science Standards. As fifth grade students made models and learned about Sun-related patterns during their time in the STEAM Lab, they considered how they might communicate this information to younger learners by making their own models from Makerspace materials. In addition to the creation of the models, our fifth-grade teachers planned scripts and made videos of their teaching before our sharing event. It was incredible to see the older students take ownership of their learning as they engaged our inquisitive first graders, who already knew so much from the incredible integrated astronomy unit they did with their amazing classroom teachers. The entire endeavor required a great deal of collaboration, between teachers and students, and was a poignant example of the dynamic work going on in our elementary classrooms.”
In numerous small groups, the older Sea Cliff students demonstrated how the Earth revolves around the Sun traveling in a path or orbit and completes one revolution in approximately 365 days, which we call a year! Other fifth graders taught their younger friends how the Earth also rotates on its axis, which is an imaginary line through the North and South poles, causing day and night! In addition, the first graders learned how the Moon has different phases which are caused by the changing positions of the Moon, Earth, and the Sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, different parts of it are illuminated by the Sun causing it to appear to change shape. The moon itself does not have any light. Some of the different phases of the moon include a full moon, a waning or waxing crescent shape, and first quarter or third quarter shape which appears like a half-moon!
It was evident that the Sea Cliff fifth graders worked very hard to teach the first graders about astrological patterns in the solar system. During their presentations, they demonstrated not only their expertise and their critical thinking skills, but their ability to communicate with their friends and younger peers. After the demonstrations, first-grader students went back to their classrooms to reflect on what they learned, while the fifth graders debriefed about the teaching process. Principal Megan McCormack also participated in this exciting multi-grade STEAM lesson!
Thank you to Ms. Adrien Kaye and all the fifth and first grade teachers for this wonderful, hands-on, original STEAM lesson where the love of learning was on display through the different grades at Sea Cliff School. Go Vikings Go!
Article written with assistance from Ms. Kaye
Photos by Shelly Newman