Let’s rotate and revolve!

Relationship between sun, moon, earth

•Phases of the moon•Earth’s rotation and revolution

•Sunrise and Sunset•Seasons

Addressing the Earth Science Content Standards

Grade level

K

1 • Distinguish characteristics of each season and describe how each season merges into the next. (DOK 1)

2 • Model and explain the concept of Earth’s rotation as it relates to day and night and infer why it is usually cooler at night than in the day. (DOK 2)

3 • Identify patterns in the phases of the moon, describe their sequence, and predict the next phase viewed in the night sky. (DOK 1)

4 • Compare and contrast the seasons and explain why seasons vary at different locations on Earth. (DOK 2)

5 • Predict the movement patterns of the sun, moon, and Earth over a specified time period. (DOK 1)

6 • Explain the daily and annual changes in the Earth’s rotation and revolution. (DOK 2)

Literature for unit:Kudlinski, K. (2005). The Sunset Switch. Minnetunka, MN: Northword.Bruchac, J. (1992). Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons. Penguin Group: USA.

Learning about shadows and the sunLearning about shadows and the sun

Making a sun dial•Provide paper plates, straws, tape, modeling clay, and other materials for students to create a sundial. Do not give them guidance – simply say they can use any of the materials provided to construct their sundial. Don’t explain the function of a sundial.

2

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2437.htm

Demonstrating shadows:•Take students outside to observe the shadow created by a toilet plunger on a poster board. Have them predict where the shadow will be in one hour – indicate their prediction with an initialed dot.•Allow them to test their sundial. Return to class and discuss why their model may or may not have ‘worked’.

Dancing balls of gasDancing balls of gas

• Rotation • Revolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkWyM-M8o0c

Modeling:•Create model of Earth and Sun.•Demonstrate rotation. How long does it take?•Demonstrate revolution. How long does it take?

Seasons Flip Book:•Draw pictures of Earth/Sun spatial relationship•Color and draw pictures to represent the season depicted.

Modeling

• Earth-Sun movement

• Why do we have time zones?• What direction does the Earth

rotate?• Create a seasons flip book

Starting a revolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47Wa7onrIQ