TEKS & Objectives
7.9. The student knows components of our solar system.
8.7 The student knows the effects resulting from cyclical movements of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
We will explore the motion of objects in space.
I will identify the components of our solar system.
1. Watch video.
GG Earth’s Orbit & Rotation 3-5
2. Review vocabulary and complete quiz.
Earth’s Orbit An orbit is the path an object follows as it moves around another one. Earth moves in a circle around the sun once every 365.25 days. We call that path Earth’s orbit.
Earth’s Rotation The action of the earth turning or spinning around its center. If you stand in one place and turn all the way around, you have rotated. The earth rotates (spins) once every 24 hours, like a spinning top toy (pictured).
Geocentric Model An ancient model of the solar system which we know today is not correct. It puts earth at the center of the solar system and says that everything orbits around the earth. “Geo” means earth and “centric” means in the center.
Heliocentric Model A model of the solar system which puts the Sun at the center and says that the planets orbit around the sun. “Helio” means relating to the sun and “centric” means in the center. Today we know that this model is correct.
3. Why all the circles in these pictures? Check out how gravity curves space.
4. Model it with a pie pan and a marble.
Alternate: Make a rotating earth (spinning top).
- Use a cup to trace and cut circles out of cardboard.
- You can also use an old CD or DVD for this.
- Cut out and color Earth, as seen from the North Pole.
- Have an adult hot glue four evenly-spaced pennies to the bottom of your planet, with a marble in the center.
- On the top of your planet, glue a skewer as your handle. You’ll have to hold it up until it dries.
- You can use a used coffee pod instead of a skewer to make the handle.
Speaking of space…
Where is a fish when it’s in orbit around the Earth?
In trouter space.
5. “Genius Challenge – Earth’s Orbit & Rotation”
