This diagram shows how the Earth's rotation on its axis causes different parts of the world to experience day and night at different times. When one side of the Earth faces the Sun, it's day; when it turns away, it's night!
Day and Night KS2
Teach your KS2 class why we have day and night with this clear guide to the Earth’s rotation, the Sun’s apparent movement across the sky and simple ways to help children understand this important Earth and Space concept.
What Causes Day and Night?
Day and night are caused by the Earth rotating on its axis. The Earth is always spinning, even though we cannot feel it. As it turns, different parts of the planet face towards or away from the Sun.
When the part of the Earth where we live is facing the Sun, we experience daytime. When that part of the Earth turns away from the Sun, we experience night-time.
Ready-to-Teach Day and Night KS2 Lesson
If you are looking for a complete lesson on day and night for KS2, PlanBee’s Earth and Space Lesson 2: Day and Night includes everything you need to teach this concept clearly and confidently.
In this Year 5 Science lesson, children investigate the Earth’s rotation and learn how this creates day and night. The lesson includes a detailed plan, engaging slideshow, differentiated activities and printable resources.
👉 Teach the Day and Night KS2 lesson
What is the Earth’s axis?
The Earth’s axis is an imaginary line that runs through the centre of the Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. The Earth spins around this axis once every 24 hours. This complete rotation gives us one full day.
Using globes, torches and diagrams can help pupils see how one side of the Earth is lit by the Sun while the other side is in darkness.
Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky?
It can look as though the Sun moves across the sky during the day, rising in the east and setting in the west. However, the Sun is not travelling around the Earth each day. It appears to move because the Earth is rotating.
Common misconceptions about day and night
When teaching day and night at KS2, children may think that day and night happen because the Sun moves behind the Earth, because clouds cover the Sun, or because the Earth moves around the Sun once each day.
A practical model using a globe and torch is a helpful way to address these misconceptions. The torch represents the Sun and the globe represents the Earth. As the globe rotates, the side facing the torch is in daylight and the side facing away is in darkness.
Day and Night KS2 Teaching Ideas
- Use a globe and torch to model how the Earth rotates.
- Ask children to draw and label a day and night diagram.
- Compare times of day in different countries.
- Explore why the Sun appears to rise and set.
- Discuss common misconceptions about the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Day and Night KS2 Questions
Why do we have day and night?
We have day and night because the Earth rotates on its axis. The side of the Earth facing the Sun has daytime, while the side facing away from the Sun has night-time.
How long does it take the Earth to rotate once?
It takes the Earth around 24 hours to complete one full rotation on its axis. This gives us one full day.
Does the Sun move around the Earth?
No. The Sun appears to move across the sky because the Earth is rotating.
How can I teach day and night in KS2?
A globe and torch demonstration is one of the clearest ways to teach day and night in KS2.
