If you feel like you're standing still, you're wrong! The Earth is constantly rotating and orbiting under our feet. Demonstrate the Earth's movement within the solar system with a collaborative activity. With a candle or lamp in the middle of the room, one pupil carries a globe in an orbit to show how the sun's light reflects on a given point on the Earth.

Concepts

planet earth, the solar system, the earth's orbit, the earth's rotation, the lunar cycle, the sun, the moon, globes

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Have learners keep a moon journal to note the lunar phase over a given period of time
• Expand the lesson for older students to explain the phenomenon of seasons, or to include additional planets in the simulation
• Use optional extension activities to differentiate the activity

Classroom Considerations

• Requires a classroom globe
• Lesson includes the use of a candle and matches, but a small lamp would work just as well
• Use the activity in the context of an academic lesson, as it does not include informational text
• The third lesson in a six-part earth science unit

Pros

• Includes two sets of directions for pre-instructional planning and during instruction
• Hands-on activity is engaging for learners of all reading levels

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.4 RST.6-8.9