HMH Science Unit 5.1 Day One

HMH Science Unit 5.1 Day One

Pgs 273-277

Can you Explain it?

• Our planet, Earth, is constantly moving. The continents, and all of the people living on them, are spread out across Earth's surface.

Open Ended

What do you think keeps all of the people and other things on Earth's surface from falling off? Use complete sentences.

Where does the Sun Go?

Thousands of years ago people believed that Earth was flat because that is how it looks when you are standing on it.

Open Ended

If you lived thousands of years ago you would have noticed that the Sun rises in the east, goes overhead during the day, and sets in the west at night. You might have wondered how the Sun could have returned to the East by the next morning.

How do you think people believed in a flat earth would have explained the sun's motion at night? Answer in complete sentences.

Demo

Take a small ball (like a golf ball) and hold it about 15 cm away from your face. As you hold the ball , notice its shape. Then try this again with a larger ball. What happened?

Demo

Now image you are an ant standing on a beach ball. Would you have any way of knowing that you are really on a beach ball?

Open Ended

How does this activity help you explain why the Earth looks flat to humans on its surface? Use complete sentences.

Flat or Round?

We have all seen images of a round Earth from space. Are there ways to tell Earth is curved while standing on it?

Riding a Ferris wheel is one way to see how the Earth changes as we go on this ride.

Open Ended

Do the people on the ground have the same view as the people at the top of the Ferris Wheel? Why do you think this is? Use complete sentences.

Flat or Round?

• The picture to the right shows two possible views of a ship sailing from the horizon toward a pier.

• Compare the views. Which view supports what you have learned about so far?