Year 7 · Science · beta

Our solar system and beyond

This unit explores gravity as the force between masses, including weight calculation using gravitational field strength. It covers the relationship between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, the concept of light years, and seasonal changes due to Earth’s tilt.

This is an attributed Oak National Academy lesson sequence, not a completed or academically approved DASKEREL course. Supporting transcripts may depend on video, images, practical equipment or teacher explanation. Follow each lesson’s supervision guidance. For religious education and RSHE, follow the school’s syllabus, policy and safeguarding procedures.

Prior knowledge

  • The Sun is a huge, hot star.
  • Other stars are much further away than the Sun.
  • Earth is a spherical rocky planet.
  • The Sun appears to move in an arc across the sky because Earth spins round once every 24 hours.
  • The spin of Earth causes day and night.
  • Earth is one of eight planets that orbit the Sun.
  • A year is the time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun.
  • The Moon is a spherical and rocky moon.
  • The Moon orbits Earth about once every month.

Source curriculum references

  • Gravity force, weight = mass x gravitational field strength (g), on Earth g=10 N/kg, different on other planets and stars; gravity forces between Earth and Moon, and between Earth and sun (qualitative only)
  • Our sun as a star, other stars in our galaxy, other galaxies
  • The seasons and the Earth’s tilt, day length at different times of year, in different hemispheres
  • The light year as a unit of astronomical distance

Oak source metadata. DASKEREL has not independently verified school-level coverage.

Loading lessons…