Sunlight in the Night Photo Credit: Yarl You cannot see the sun in the nighttime. But did you know that you can see the sun s light at night? Here s how it works. When it is dark, you see the moon shining in the sky. But we know that the moon does not make its own light. Moonlight is really light from the sun. The moon reflects the sunlight. When something is reflected, it is thrown back. The sun s light is thrown back to Earth. That makes the moon look as if it has its own light. What you are really seeing is the reflection of the sun s light.
Name: Date: Directions: For questions 1-4, circle the correct answer. 1. What can you see in the nighttime? a) bright, blue skies b) the sun c) the sun s light 2. What does this passage explain? a) how the moon makes its own light b) how you can see the sun s light at night c) how the sun makes its own light 3. The moon does not make its own light. It reflects light from the sun. What does this information tell us about the sun? a) The sun is very hot. b) The sun makes its own light. c) The sun reflects light from the moon. 4. What is the lesson in Sunlight in the Night? a) You can see the sun in the sky during the day and at night. b) The moon does not make its own light. c) You can see the sun s light at night reflecting off the moon. 3
5. A) What reflects the sun s light at night? The sun s light is reflected by. B) Draw arrows to show how the light from the sun is reflected to Earth at night. 4
6. What did you learn from Sunlight in the Night? 7. Class Discussion Question: If the moon does not make its own light, explain why it shines at night. 5
Teacher Guide & Answers Note to Teacher: Read each question out loud to your students and have each student complete the worksheet independently. For questions 5 A) and 6, you can have students draw their answers, answer orally, or write their answers depending on your students progress. If you have them write their answers, you may want to write the word(s) on the board for them to copy. Question 7 is a class discussion question. Passage Reading Level: Lexile 460 Directions: For questions 1-4, circle the correct answer. 1. What can you see in the nighttime? a) bright, blue skies b) the sun c) the sun s light 2. What does this passage explain? a) how the moon makes its own light b) how you can see the sun s light at night c) how the sun makes its own light 3. The moon does not make its own light. It reflects light from the sun. What does this information tell us about the sun? a) The sun is very hot. b) The sun makes its own light. c) The sun reflects light from the moon. 4. What is the lesson in Sunlight in the Night? a) You can see the sun in the sky during the day and at night. b) The moon does not make its own light. c) You can see the sun s light at night reflecting off the moon. 1
5. A) Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page. What reflects the sun s light at night? Suggested answer: The sun s light is reflected by the moon. B) Draw arrows to show how the light from the sun is reflected to Earth at night. Suggested answer: The arrows should correctly show that light travels from the sun to the moon, and then is reflected to the Earth. Thus, there should be an arrow from the sun to the moon, and then another arrow from the moon to the Earth. 6. Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page. What did you learn from Sunlight in the Night? Suggested answer: Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage. 7. Note to Teacher: See note at the top of the first page. Class Discussion Question: If the moon does not make its own light, explain why it shines at night. Suggested answer: Answers may vary but students should explain that the moon does not make its own light but the sun does. Light from the sun shines on the moon. We can see that light on Earth because the moon reflects the sunlight back to Earth. That makes the moon look like it is shining with its own light. When you see the moon shining at night, what you are really seeing is a reflection of the sun s light. 2