GRADE: Third

CONTENT STANDARD: Earth and Space Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Space Science

CONCEPT: Our solar system is composed of many objects which revolve around a star.

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: 3H2.00 To understand the earth-sun-moon relationship

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The learner will:

2.01 construct a model of our earth-sun-moon system.
2.02 demonstrate two types of movement involving the earth.
2.03 list the ways that time is related to the movement of the earth and moon.
2.04 define satellite.
2.05 distinguish between natural and man-made satellites.
2.06 demonstrate the relation and movement of the natural satellites of the sun.
2.07 define and demonstrate an orbit.
2.08 list reasons for man-made satellite placement in orbit.

I. Sun
II. Earth
III. Moon
IV. Definitions
A. Satellite
B. Orbit
C. Rotation
D. Revolution
V. Natural satellites
VI. Man-made satellites

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE:

Habits of Mind

To enable students to demonstrate ways of thinking and acting inherent on the practice of science; and to exhibit an awareness of the historical and cultural contributions to the enterprise of science.

3.1 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE - The knowledge and processes of science have evolved over time as an approximation of truth within cultural contexts.

3.1a Although some scientific knowledge is very old, it is still applicable today.

BENCHMARK: Current scientific knowledge and future progress are based upon past scientific truths.

TIME REQUIRED:

Two - 30 minute instructional periods

MATERIALS:

Model of sun-earth-moon, globe, different sizes of spheres, magazines (To find pictures of the seasons)

Today, class, we are going to construct a model of our earth-sun-moon system. We will compare two types of movement involving the earth. We will discuss the ways that time is related to the movement of the earth and moon.

The portion of the solar system which interests us the most is composed of one star, (The sun) a planet (The earth) and a moon (Our moon). The earth and the moon are satellites of the sun. A satellite is a smaller object that revolves around a larger object. The earth and moon revolve around the sun. The sun is at the center of the solar system. It is the star closest to the earth. It is a very large ball made of hot gases. The earth is the planet on which we live. The earth gets light and heat from the sun. The earth revolves around the sun. When the earth has moved all the way around the sun, a year has past. The earth rotates on its axis and this takes 24 hours. The sun moves across the sky, but its locations change with the seasons.

The moon moves across the sky. You can see the different phases of the moon. The shape of the moon changes in a cycle that lasts about a month. To explain rotation and revolution, I want _____ and _____ to come up here. _____ , you be the sun. You just stand there shining. _____, you be the earth. Your part is a little more tricky. You have to rotate on your axis. That means you turn slowly round and round, don't stop. This is continuous. While you are rotating you must also revolve around the sun. As you spin you must also move in a circle around the sun. A rotation takes 24 hours. A revolution takes a year. The moon is a satellite of the earth. The moon doesn't really shine at night. It reflects the light of the sun. The moon makes a revolution around the earth every 28 days and it seems to change shape as it revolves.

1. Use three children, have the rest observe. One is the sun, one is the earth, one is the moon. Show how the moon moves around the earth, while the earth moves around the sun.

2. Children are to work in small groups and construct an earth-sun-moon model from different sizes of spheres. Let children demonstrate the movement of the earth using the model which was constructed.

3. Have children observe the position of shadows during morning and afternoon. Go outside early in the morning and have half of the children positioned so their shadow is seen best. Have their partner trace their shadow using chalk. Trade places. Go back to the same place later in the day. Trace the shadows again. Compare the size and length of the shadows. Relate the change in shadow positions to the rotation of the earth and the time required for the shadow to move.

What is the largest star in the solar system? (Sun) It takes one year (Revolve) around the sun. It takes one day for the earth to _____. (Rotate on its axis) It takes twenty-eight days for the (Moon) to rotate around the earth.

1. CLASSIFYING. Seasons of the Year. Divide children into groups of four. Give each group a piece of poster board. Children are to look for pictures of each season. They are to show the change of seasons with pictures of clothing, weather conditions, sports and other activities.

2. OBSERVING AND RECORDING. Have children observe the change of the moon's shape over a period of one month and record the findings on a chart.

3. Field Trip. Take the children on a trip to the local planetarium, if one is available.)

Classroom Connector Two

MATERIALS:

handouts, basketball, softball, ping-pong ball, construction paper in different colors (yellow, green, white, black), white crayon, filmstrip on Earth, Sun and Moon

Today, we are going to have another lesson about the sun, earth, and moon. We will discuss the relationships of the sun, earth, and moon to each other.

(Write works and definition on the board that are listed below.) What planet has lots of water on it? (The planet Earth) Our earth is warmed by the sun. What is shining in the sky today? (Sun) What big white object was in the sky last night? (Moon) (Draw three circles on the board to show relationship in size. Explain and give facts about each.)

I have written some of the terms we need to learn to define on the board. Let's read them together.

1. Satellite - a body revolving around a larger body in space

2. Orbit - the path that one moving object follows around another object in space (Draw a path on the board around the sun.)

3. Rotation - movement around a fixed point (Earth going around the sun)

4. Revolution - movement on a fixed point (Earth turning)

Some facts that we need to know which are related to the earth, sun, and moon are:

The earth is our home planet. It gets light and heat from the sun. The earth travels around the sun.

The sun is a star that is closest to the earth. It is a lot bigger than the earth. It gives us heat and light.

The moon travels around the earth. It travels around the earth while the earth moves around the sun. It is smaller than the earth. It gets its light from the sun. The moon is a natural satellite. All of us have heard about the man-made satellites which are used with television and other types of communication. Did you ever think of the moon as being a satellite? (response)

(Terms and facts should be on the board and written out on paper for each student to enhance learning.)

1. Handout - Label each circle as sun, moon, and earth to show where they are located in space in relationship to each other. Trace the dotted path to show earth and moon orbits.

2. Use the basketball for the sun, softball for the earth, ping-pong ball for the moon. Involve three students with each holding one ball. The student with the softball will walk around the basketball, the ping-pong ball will walk around the softball. Discuss the sizes and the orbits.

3. Involve the students in an art project using construction paper circles, large yellow for the sun, medium green for the earth, small white for the moon. Glue the circles onto black construction paper. Suggest that the students trace the orbital path with a white crayon and label each circle. The teacher will monitor by walking around and observing and helping each child.

4. Show filmstrip on Earth, Sun, and Moon.)

(Prepare response cards as follows: "E," "S," and "M." Let the students answer each question from the board by holding up the correct response card.) Let each student make up one fill-in-the-blank sentence that describes either the moon, earth, or sun. Students use response cards for these also.
1. We live on _____ .

2. The is the closest star to earth.

3. We get heat and light from the _____.

4. The travels around the earth.

5. The moon and earth orbit the _____.

(Direct the students in orally reviewing the terms and definitions which were included in the lesson. One suggestion involves having each term and each definition on sentence strips. The students can match terms and definitions.)

In 1969, three United States astronauts landed on the moon. They were Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michael Collins.

Sally Ride became the first United States, female to go into space in June, 1983.

Kathryn Sullivan became the first United States woman to walk in space.

This is the time this file has been accessed since 05/18/97.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

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