Download Rotation

Science Focus Lesson
SC.4.E.5.4
Rotation
Polk County Public Schools
SC.4.E.5.4
Benchmark: Relate that the rotation of Earth (day
and night) and apparent movements of the Sun,
Moon, and stars are connected.
Essential Question:
How does the movement of the Earth affect
what we see in the sky?
Vocabulary:
rotation
revolution
axis
moon phases
Earth’s Rotation
 Rotation is a movement similar to a spinning top
 Rotations are PREDICTABLE and REGULAR
 The Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours
 The Earth’s axis is an imaginary line that passes
through Earth’s center from the North Pole
to the South Pole
Apparent Movement
Earth rotates from west to east on its axis. This makes
the sun, moon and stars look as though they are
moving from east to west.
We say that the sun, moon, and stars rise in the east
and set in the west. However…it is actually the
Earth’s rotation that causes this apparent movement.
Click on Earth for a link
Day and Night
 Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours.
 As the Earth spins on its axis, we are carried in and
out of the sunlight that is always shining on half the
planet. This is why we have day and night once every
24 hours.
Click on this link
Summarizing
Collaborative Pairs:
Partner A: Tell partner B one result of the
Earth’s rotation
Partner B: Tell partner A another result of the
Earth’s rotation
Earth’s Revolution
 A revolution is a complete trip around the sun
Click for link
 One revolution equals a year
 The Earth makes one revolution in 365 days
 The path of a revolution is called an orbit, it’s shape
is an ellipse (like a flattened circle)
The Night Sky
•Because of the
Earth’s revolution
we have four
seasons
•Because of the
Earth’s revolution
we see different
star patterns in
different seasons
Moon’s Movement
 The Moon’s movements are similar to Earth’s
movements
 The Moon rotates (spins) as it revolves around the
Earth
 The moon’s rotation and revolution both take about
28 days
 The shape of the moon appears to be different as a
result of the Moon’s movements which change the
part of the moon that reflects light from the Sun to
Earth. These are called Moon Phases
Summarizing
Collaborative Pairs:
Partner A: Tell partner B one result of the
Earth’s revolution around the Sun
Partner B: Tell partner A another result of the
Earth’s revolution around the Sun
Guided Instruction:
Talk to your shoulder partner about the answer to
each question. Check your work.
Children all over the earth experience night and
day. At the same moment, it can be morning in
America and nighttime in China. What causes day
and night?
A The tilt of the earth on its axis
B The rotation of earth on its axis
C The phases of the moon
D The Sun revolving around the earth
The answer is
The rotation of earth on its axis causes
day and night. One rotation of Earth
equals one day. At any time, half of
Earth faces the sun. That half has
daytime. At the same time, the other
half of Earth faces away from the sun.
That half has nighttime.
Guided Instruction:
Which of these is a result of the spinning
of Earth on its axis?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The apparent motion of the Sun in the sky
The motion caused by Earth’s revolution
The length of a year
The change from spring to summer
The answer is
The apparent motion of the Sun in
the sky is caused by the Earth’s
rotation from west to east on its
axis. This makes the sun look as if it
were rising in the east and setting in
the west.
Guided Instruction:
How long does Earth take to
rotate once?
A.
B.
C.
D.
365 hours
24 hours
12 hours
365 days
The answer is
Earth rotates on its axis once
every 24 hours. One rotation of
Earth equals one day.
Summarizing
Stand and Share:
 In 30 sec. groups write answers to the
essential question
 Compile all of the answers on the board
Essential Question:
How does the movement of
the Earth affect what we see
in the sky?
Check Your Understanding
What causes the phase of the Moon to change each
night during a 28 day period?
A. The Moon changes its actual shape throughout the course of
the month.
B. The alignment between the Earth, Moon, and Sun
determines the amount of light reflected by the Moon.
C. The season of the year determines the phase of the Moon.
D. The closer the Moon is to Earth, the more light the Moon
reflects.
Check Your Understanding
Keisha wants to show Amy what happens during one
Earth day. Keisha holds a small globe representing
Earth, and Amy holds a large ball representing the
Sun. What should Keisha do to show Amy what
happens during one Earth day?
A. Keisha should move the globe in one complete circle around
Amy.
B. Keisha should move the globe toward Amy and then away
from her.
C. Keisha should slowly lift the globe above her head and then
lower it.
D. Keisha should slowly spin the globe one complete time
about its axis.
Check Your Understanding
Charles learned that Earth rotates on its axis. What
evidence supports the theory that Earth is rotating
on its axis?
There is a day and a night.
B. There are 365 days in each year.
C. There are four phases of the Moon.
D. There are different seasons of the year.
A.
Check Your Understanding
What evidence is there that the Earth is revolving
around the Sun?
There is day and night
B. The sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west
C. The moon cycles through its phases every 28 days
D. Different stars are visible in the night sky during
different seasons
A.
Check Your Answers
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. D
Summary Question
In your science journal, write an answer
to the essential question:
How does the movement of
the Earth affect what we see
in the sky?