Science Lesson 12.05

Science Lesson 12.05

Revolves Around the Sun

Revolves Around

the Sun

Back before there were smart watches that could read you the time in an Australian accent, there were sundials. People used them to tell the time using the sun. Some sundials can even tell you the month and day based on the sun. It’s not magic. It’s just science.

What will I learn in this lesson?

I will be able to

-recognize that Earth rotates once on its axis in a 24-hour day

-describe that Earth rotates once on its axis in a 24-hour day

-recognize that Earth revolves around the sun once in a year

-describe that Earth revolves around the sun once in a year

What does it have to do with time?

How are Earth and the sun connected to time? When the time changes, does the sky change too? In this lesson, you're going to explore how the rotation of Earth is related to time and find the answers to these questions. Let's get started!

Think Like a Scientist

Observe the image of Earth spinning on its axis. How long do you think it takes for Earth to rotate on its axis? Do you think it takes minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even years? Once you've made your prediction, check your answer.

Answer

It takes Earth approximately 24 hours to completely rotate once around its axis. That means that the period of time between when the sun rises, sets, and rises again is one day, which has a total of 24 hours.

Talk Like a Scientist

To replicate the rotation of Earth around its own axis, you can use a foam ball and two toothpicks. Place one toothpick at the top center of the foam ball and one toothpick directly below it on the bottom center of the foam ball. Then, draw a line between the two toothpicks. This line, from the top of the toothpick down to the end of the bottom toothpick, represents the axis that Earth rotates on. 

Talk Like a Scientist

Rotate your model Earth as many times as the real Earth would rotate in one day. Share your model and what you know about Earth's rotation with a friend or family member.

Answer

If you rotated your model Earth once, then you are correct! Earth rotates around its own axis once in 24 hours, or once every day.

Multiple Choice

How many hours does it take for Earth to rotate on its axis one time?

• 365

• 7

• 24

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many days are in 24 hours?

• 12

• 365

• 1

• 7

Multiple Choice

How many times does Earth rotate in 3 days?

• 3

• 7

• 365

• 12

Multiple Choice

How many times does Earth rotate in a week?

• 365

• 7

• 12

• 1

Multiple Choice

How many times does Earth rotate in a year?

• 365

• 7

• 12

• 24

Practice Like a Scientist

It's time for you to observe what can happen during one rotation of Earth on its own axis, or in other words, what can happen in 24 hours!

Print the What Can Happen in a Day? activity sheet and follow the instructions provided. 

What about the sun?

You've learned that every 24 hours Earth rotates on its axis and that is how Earth and time are connected. How are the sun and time connected? It's time to figure it out!

Multiple Choice

Earth rotates on its _____.

• side

• back

• top

• axis

Multiple Choice

Earth _____ around the sun.

• revolves

• swings

• jumps

• dances

Multiple Choice

There are 24 hours in one day on _____.

• Mars

• Saturn

• Jupiter

• Earth

Multiple Choice

The _____ revolves around Earth.

• sun

• stars

• moon

• martians

Multiple Choice

It takes Earth one year to _____ 365 days.

• rotate

• dance

• revolve

• move

Multiple Choice

How long does it take Earth to revolve around the sun? Is it minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even years?

• 60 minutes

• 24 hours

• 4 weeks

• 365 days

Different Times of the Year

The position of Earth changes as it revolves around the sun throughout the course of a year. This is called a revolution, and during this time, Earth rotates 365 times around the sun. During the different seasons, Earth is found in a different position in relation to the sun.

Winter

In the winter months, Earth appears to the side of the sun. It will travel to the left to revolve around the sun over the course of a year.

Spring

After a few months have passed, Earth has revolved to a new position around the sun. It continues to travel this direction its entire orbit.

Summer

In the summer months, Earth has revolved to the other side of the sun. It is now positioned on the opposite side as it was during the winter months.

Fall

During the fall months, Earth is positioned on the opposite side as it was in spring. Earth continues to revolve, and soon, one year has passed and the cycle repeats.

Practice Like a Scientist

Print the Modeling the Movements activity sheet and follow the instructions provided. 

Lesson Summary

It takes Earth 24 hours to complete a full rotation on its axis. From the time you wake up in the morning to the time you wake up again the next morning, it is a full day and a full rotation of Earth on its axis. Depending on the time of year, Earth will be found in a different place around the sun. It takes Earth 365 days, or one year, to revolve around the sun once.

Now I Can

-recognize that Earth rotates once on its axis in a 24-hour day

-describe that Earth rotates once on its axis in a 24-hour day

-recognize that Earth revolves around the sun once in a year

-describe that Earth revolves around the sun once in a year

Multiple Choice

Earth _____ around the sun.

• revolves

• sun

• one

• year

Multiple Choice

It takes _____ days to complete one revolution of the sun.

• 24 hours

• 365 days

• 60 seconds

• 4 weeks

Multiple Choice

This is also known as a _____.

• week

• month

• day

• year

Multiple Choice

How long does it take for Earth to complete one rotation on its axis?

• 24 hours

• 48 hours

• 72 hours

• One year

Multiple Choice

How long does it take for Earth to revolve once around the sun?

• One day

• One month

• One week

• One year

Multiple Choice

You are using a Styrofoam ball as a model of Earth. If you were to spin your model the same amount of times Earth spins in one day, how many times would you spin it?

• Four times

• Once

• Three times

• Twice

Multiple Choice

What does revolve mean?

• To float in the air and move in an upward and downward motion.

• To move backward around another object.

• To move in a zig-zag pattern around another object.

• To move in a circular pattern around another object

Multiple Choice

How many times would Earth rotate on its axis during one revolution of the sun?

• 1

• 3

• 36

• 365

Multiple Choice

Tanya and Becca are modeling what happens to Earth every 24 hours. Tanya is holding a tennis ball, which represents Earth. Becca is holding a basketball, which represents the sun. What should Tanya do to model what happens to Earth every 24 hours?

• Tanya should slowly spin the tennis ball once around an imaginary axis.

• Tanya should slowly spin the tennis ball five times around an imaginary axis.

• Tanya should slowly walk around Becca five times.

• Tanya should slowly walk around Becca once.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best describes Earth's rotation?

• Earth rotates on its axis once every two days.

• Earth rotates on its axis once every year.

• Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours.

• Earth rotates on its axis twice every 24 hours.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best describes Earth's revolution around the sun?

• Earth revolves around the sun once in a year.

• Earth revolves around the sun once in 24 hours.

• Earth revolves around the sun once in five years.

• Earth revolves around the sun three times in a year.

Multiple Choice

Bobby and Jeff are modeling how many times Earth revolves around the sun in one year. Bobby is holding a tennis ball, which represents Earth. Jeff is holding a basketball, which represents the sun. What should Bobby and Jeff do to represent this?

• Bobby should walk around Jeff in one complete circle.

• Bobby should walk around Jeff in three complete circles.

• Jeff should walk around Bobby in one complete circle.

• Jeff should walk around Bobby in three complete circles.

Multiple Choice

What does Earth rotate on?

• Its axis

• Its continents

• Its countries

• Its poles

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best describes Earth's rotation?

• Earth rotates on its axis once every two days.

• Earth rotates on its axis once every year.

• Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours.

• Earth rotates on its axis twice every 24 hours.