4.8 Relationships among Earth, Moon, and Sun
The student will investigate and understand the relationships among Earth, the moon, and the sun. Key concepts include
a) the motions of Earth, the moon, and the sun;
b) the causes for Earth’s seasons;
c) the causes for the phases of the moon;
d) the relative size, position, age, and makeup of Earth, the moon, and the sun; and
e) historical contributions in understanding the Earth-moon-sun system.
a) the motions of Earth, the moon, and the sun;
b) the causes for Earth’s seasons;
c) the causes for the phases of the moon;
d) the relative size, position, age, and makeup of Earth, the moon, and the sun; and
e) historical contributions in understanding the Earth-moon-sun system.
Understanding the Standard:
· Earth completes one revolution around the sun every 365 ¼ days. The moon revolves around Earth about once every month.
· Due to its axial tilt, Earth experiences seasons during its revolution around the sun.
· The phases of the moon are caused by its position relative to Earth and the sun. The phases of the moon include the new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last (third) quarter, and waning crescent.
· The sun is an average-sized yellow star, about 110 times the diameter of Earth. The sun is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
· Our moon is a small rocky satellite, having about one-quarter the diameter of Earth and one-eightieth its mass. It has extremes of temperature, virtually no atmosphere or life, and very little water.
· Earth is one of eight planets that revolve around the sun and comprise the solar system. Earth, the third planet from the sun, is one of the four terrestrial inner planets. It is about 150 million kilometers from the sun.
· Earth is a geologically active planet with a surface that is constantly changing. Unlike the other three inner planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars), it has large amounts of life-supporting water and an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Earth’s protective atmosphere blocks out most of the sun’s damaging rays.
· Our understanding of the solar system has changed from an Earth-centered model of Aristotle and Ptolemy to the sun-centered model of Copernicus and Galileo.
· The NASA Apollo missions added greatly to our understanding of the moon.
· Our understanding of the sun, moon, and the solar system continues to change with new scientific discoveries.
· Earth completes one revolution around the sun every 365 ¼ days. The moon revolves around Earth about once every month.
· Due to its axial tilt, Earth experiences seasons during its revolution around the sun.
· The phases of the moon are caused by its position relative to Earth and the sun. The phases of the moon include the new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, last (third) quarter, and waning crescent.
· The sun is an average-sized yellow star, about 110 times the diameter of Earth. The sun is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
· Our moon is a small rocky satellite, having about one-quarter the diameter of Earth and one-eightieth its mass. It has extremes of temperature, virtually no atmosphere or life, and very little water.
· Earth is one of eight planets that revolve around the sun and comprise the solar system. Earth, the third planet from the sun, is one of the four terrestrial inner planets. It is about 150 million kilometers from the sun.
· Earth is a geologically active planet with a surface that is constantly changing. Unlike the other three inner planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars), it has large amounts of life-supporting water and an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Earth’s protective atmosphere blocks out most of the sun’s damaging rays.
· Our understanding of the solar system has changed from an Earth-centered model of Aristotle and Ptolemy to the sun-centered model of Copernicus and Galileo.
· The NASA Apollo missions added greatly to our understanding of the moon.
· Our understanding of the sun, moon, and the solar system continues to change with new scientific discoveries.
Book Resources:
Poetry for Young People: The Seasons
By John N. Serio. 2005. 48p. Sterling. (978-1402712548).
Grades 3+
Ages 8+
http://tinyurl.com/6lp7ylh
*A book about poetry and the seasons! Perfect for a fun read with your students.
Grades 3+
Ages 8+
http://tinyurl.com/6lp7ylh
*A book about poetry and the seasons! Perfect for a fun read with your students.
Tree For All Seasons
By Robin Bernard. 2001. 16p. National Geographic Children's Books. (978-0792266747).
Grades 3+
Ages 8+
http://tinyurl.com/7lwt3cq
*Explore great photographs of the trees of each season.
Grades 3+
Ages 8+
http://tinyurl.com/7lwt3cq
*Explore great photographs of the trees of each season.
Earth Moon and Sun (Essential Science)
By Peter Riley. 2010. 32p. Franklin Watts. (978-0749696023).
Any grade or age
http://tinyurl.com/85jcpzb
*Great information about the earth, sun, and moon. As well as hands on activities included in this book!
Any grade or age
http://tinyurl.com/85jcpzb
*Great information about the earth, sun, and moon. As well as hands on activities included in this book!
The Sun (Starting with Space)
By Paulette Bourgeois. 1996. 40p. Kids Can Press. (B004AYDDVA)
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/7gckmto
*Interesting book about the sun. There are stories about the sun as well as commonly asked questions and answers!
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/7gckmto
*Interesting book about the sun. There are stories about the sun as well as commonly asked questions and answers!
The Moon
By Seymour Simon. 2003. 32p. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. (978-0689835636)
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/6othmxw
*Learn all about the moon! Great photography to share with your students.
Grades 2+
Ages 7+
http://tinyurl.com/6othmxw
*Learn all about the moon! Great photography to share with your students.
Study Jams:
Study Jams: A Day on Earth
http://tinyurl.com/6n2hhs5
Study Jams: The Moon
http://tinyurl.com/22wasa7
http://tinyurl.com/6n2hhs5
Study Jams: The Moon
http://tinyurl.com/22wasa7
Interactive Websites for Kids:
Looking at the night sky:
http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/looking-night-sky/
*A science links activity where your students can look at the night sky and different seasons. What do the stars look like? How do they differ?
Phases of the Moon at any time:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
Phases of the moon:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/index.html
http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/looking-night-sky/
*A science links activity where your students can look at the night sky and different seasons. What do the stars look like? How do they differ?
Phases of the Moon at any time:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html
Phases of the moon:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/index.html
Printable Worksheets:
Reason for the Seasons:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/kahl/www/CoVis/Seasons/
*This worksheet has information about seasons that your students can read as well as two follow up questions.
More about seasons:
http://www.scienceu.com/observatory/articles/seasons/seasons.html
Sun, Earth, Moon Lyrics:
http://www.educationalrap.com/song/sun-earth-moon.html
*Great way to get your students moving and excited to learn about the earth, sun and moon!!
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/kahl/www/CoVis/Seasons/
*This worksheet has information about seasons that your students can read as well as two follow up questions.
More about seasons:
http://www.scienceu.com/observatory/articles/seasons/seasons.html
Sun, Earth, Moon Lyrics:
http://www.educationalrap.com/song/sun-earth-moon.html
*Great way to get your students moving and excited to learn about the earth, sun and moon!!
Assessments:
Order the planets:
http://www.quia.com/pp/1002.html
*Have your students order the plants as a review to see what they have learned so far!
Lunar Cycle: The Challenge
http://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/lunar-cycle-2-the-challenge/
*An interactive activity for your students. Allows them to drag and drop the correct moon phases in order. See what they know!
http://www.quia.com/pp/1002.html
*Have your students order the plants as a review to see what they have learned so far!
Lunar Cycle: The Challenge
http://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/lunar-cycle-2-the-challenge/
*An interactive activity for your students. Allows them to drag and drop the correct moon phases in order. See what they know!