Read Aloud Guide: Sun Up, Sun Down

This activity includes a read aloud guide, anchor charts, and reading response forms designed to be used with Gail Gibbons' picture book Sun Up, Sun Down.

• Teachers will need to source a copy of Sun Up, Sun Down by Gail Gibbons. An e-book is available through Open Library.
• Teachers may choose to print out or recreate the anchor charts provided.
• Invite students to complete the Response to Reading page during small group or independent work. There are two levels to choose from.
• This book provides a wealth of knowledge about the sun. The following standards can be addressed through experiments, observations, and activities. See the full lesson Sun Up, Sun Down for more.
  • 1-ESS1-2. Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.
  • K-PS3-1 Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.

This exercise emphasizes how the sun helps sustain plant growth. Additionally, it emphasizes how solar energy is captured from the sun to help with the switch to cleaner energy sources. The activity includes supplementary educational materials that have undergone a rigorous evaluation for scientific legitimacy.

Primary Standards

• Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
  • Reading: Literature (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.