Unit 3: Earth and the Moon

Learning Goals

By the end of the unit, student will be able to:

Recalling accurate science

• Show Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5°.

• Recognize that the rotation of Earth on its axis produces day and night, which is why the sun, stars and moon appear to change position in the sky.

• Recognize that Earth’s revolution takes approximately 365 days, producing years.

Interpreting and communicating science concepts

• Represent the sun, moon and Earth and their orbits graphically and to scale. 

• Use actual data and measurements for the representation of the sun, moon and Earth.

• Predict the occurrence of natural events related to the motion of the Earth and Sun.

Demonstrating science knowledge

• Use a model to demonstrate the effects Earth’s counterclockwise rotation has on sunrise and sunset (east to west).

• Use a model to demonstrate how the Earth, Sun and Moon revolve and rotate.

• Use a simple model to demonstrate the positions of the sun, moon and Earth to detect and test the reasons why the moon and sun appear to change position in the sky and why the moon has phases. 

• Create a sundial and investigate different shadow positions throughout the day. Analyze the data. 

• Use models to demonstrate how different stars and constellations are visible during different times of the year in different hemispheres.