Planet Earth
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Planet Earth
Planet Earth
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Ten tips for learning success
In this section you will….
1 Get in touch with information on Planet Earth through a number of sources
2 Become familiar with the key concepts of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun and
its consequences
3 Use different resources to understand the content of the text on earth revolution
4 Investigate seasons and their length in different countries of the world
5 Analyze how the change of seasons affects your environment
6 Reflect upon how seasons affect life in different countries of the world
7 Think of and share solutions to the lack of sun light in winter in some areas of the world
8 Work in groups, share your ideas and come up with your own conclusions
9 Plan and discuss your project with the members of your group
10 Keep track and assess your progress during the process of recalling, understanding,
reflecting and applying the concepts to the project
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1.
READING
Planet earth
Revolution
Video:
http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/wonders-with-brian-cox/videos/wonders-of-the-solarsystem-earth-in-fast-forward.htm
.
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Activities: Questions
A. Recalling
-1) Match the numbers from the text to the correct concept
A—4
1 The number of days in a calendar year
B – 365
2 The number days and hours to complete one revolution
C – 366
3 The number of seasons
D – 365 + 6 hrs
4 The number of hours in a day
E – 24
A
3
5 The number of days in a leap year
B
C
D
E __
-2) Write the seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn) in the correct columns
Equinoxes
Solstices
-3) Use this link to become familiar with the main vocabulary that you are going to need in the
following activities: http://quizlet.com/30515743/planet-earth-flash-cards/
B. Understanding
-
Astronomical winter starts on the day of the winter solstice. When does winter start in
the North hemisphere? Is it always on the same date? How do we calculate the date of
the winter solstice?
-
Astronomical winter starts on the day of the Winter solstice. How about climatic winter?
Does it start on the same date in the different areas of the North hemisphere?
-
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In your town, does winter start on the same date as in Helsinki? Locate Helsinki and find
information on when winter starts there. How do you calculate the start of the climatic
winter?
-
In northern Europe, winter is long and dark. Investigate time lapse between
summer and winter in a northern Europe country:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTjyt-6hJQw
-
There are 13 countries which are situated on the Equator. Make a list of 5 countries you
think are on the Equator. Check your answers here:
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/newart/locator/equator.htm
C. Applying and reflecting
-
What do you think would happen if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating?
Discuss in groups.
Describe 2 possible outcomes:
a)
b)
-
How different would your life be if you lived near the Equator? Have you met anyone
who has lived/travelled to any of the countries on the world atlas map?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu39Eyn0pOg
-
Having a dark winter can affect people and their lives in many different ways.
Electricity is a good substitute, but sunlight is even better. How do you think
you could get light from the sun and project it on a town? What would you
need? Investigate on the solution.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2366073/Town-Norwegian-valley-setwinter-sunlight-time-history-using-giant-MIRRORS.html
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Revision
1 Label the diagram
North Pole - South Pole – Northern Hemisphere – Southern Hemisphere – Equator
2 Copy the two columns into your exercise book and match the dates with the information.
Write the dates on the diagram.
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Extension
What Causes the Seasons?
Watch this video and answer the questions.
Watch this short film which explains the causes of the seasons.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4_-R1vnJyw
True or False
1 The axis of the Earth is tilted on an angle of 23.5 degrees
2 The 22nd of September is when the summer solstice begins
3 In the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere faces away from the sun
4 The shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere is during the summer solstice
5 The word equinox comes from Latin
Finished? Watch again and correct the incorrect sentences.
Answer the questions
1 When are day and night exactly the same length?
2 Describe what the ecliptic line is
3 How does the Earth’s distance from the sun affect seasons?
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Project 1: Collaborative Task
Planet Earth: Rotation
You need:
Step by step instructions
1 – Get into groups of 3 or 4 and check
that you have the material from the list.
- a torch / flashlight
2 – Using the ball and the torch, try to
illustrate what happens at the Earth
rotates. (Day and night; seasons).
- a ball, balloon or globe
- notebook and pen
- optional: camera
3 – Take notes on how you set up your
experiment and what results you found.
4 – Include pictures or drawing of your
results
5 – Share your findings with another
group. Did they set up the experiment in
the same way?
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Optional Earth Science Extension Project: Rotation Spinning Earth Axis
Source: Education.com http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/rotation-spinningearth-axis/
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Project 2: Your plan in Helsinki
Imagine you have to move to Helsinki for a year. The idea is to create a plan with the most
interesting activities you can do in Helsinki so that your friends can come over for some days.
Work with your group. Questions have been asked to help you with the decisions.
The plan must consist of at least 2 time periods and cover a whole year.
Step one: Time
Discuss with your group and agree on:
 How would you divide the year?
 How many time periods would you divide your plan in?
 What characteristics would every period meet?
 What weather and sun light should be expected for every period?
Step two: Activities
Think, discuss and agree on the activities that each period should have:
 How many activities a month/week?
 What kinds of activities? Indoors, outdoors…?
 What criteria should you follow when choosing the activities?
o Time
o Cost
o Transportation
o Requirements

Where would you look up information on activities in Helsinki?
Step 3: Plan your plan
Investigate touristic brochures, trip blogs, websites.
Think, discuss and agree on the format your plan should have.
 Would your plan be in paper? Online?
 How would you make it accessible for everybody?
 How would you share it with your friends?
 Would you show them all the activities? Or would you release them little by little?
 Would you create some teasers to make them feel interested in travelling to Helsinki?
How would you convince a friend who has been there twice? And their parents?
Step 4: Create your plan
After agreeing on the organization of your plan, now it’s time to put it all together. If possible,
create it and share it with the rest of groups.
http://www.visithelsinki.fi/en
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTjyt-6hJQw
http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/seasons-in-finland
http://www.travelettes.net/what-to-do-in-helsinki-during-winter/
http://www.myhelsinki.fi/experience-helsinki.html
http://vimeo.com/66733318
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFMkgg3aeE0
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Assessment Rubric
Planet Earth
3
You can
remember
and discuss
most of the
information
from the text
and video
You can
You can quite
understand how understand how
seasons work and seasons work and
how they affect how they affect
climate
climate
2
You can remember
and talk about
some of the
information
from the text
and video
1 
You can
remember
and talk very
little about
the text
and video
You can
understand
some concepts on
how seasons work
and how they
affect climate
Applying
information
You can easily
use
and apply the
information in
the text
You can use most
of the
information in
the text
You can use some
of the
information in
the text
You find it
difficult
to understand
how seasons
work and how
they affect
climate
You can use little
of the
information in
the text
Group work
You
participated
in all the
aspects of the
unit with your
group. You
have worked
extremely
well and
solved any
situations
with group
members
You
participated in
most of the
aspects of the
unit with your
group. You
have worked
very well and
solved most of
the situations
with group
members
You
participated
in some of
the aspects of
the unit with
your group.
You have
worked well
and solved
some
situations
with group
members
You barely
participated in
the unit with
your group. You
have worked
little and solved
none of the
situations with
group members
Project
You
participated
in all the
aspects of the
creation of
the project
You
participated in
most of the
aspects of the
creation of the
project
You
participated
in some of
the aspects of
the creation
of the project
You barely
participated in
the aspects of
the creation of
the project
Recalling
information
Understanding
information
4 
You can easily
remember and
discuss the
information in
the text and
video
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Assessment Rubric: Students’
My project: Earth revolution
4 
I took information
Gathering
information and from 3 or more
sources describing
resources
the earth’s
rotation
3
I took
information
from 1 or 2
sources
describing the
earth’s
rotation
2
I only took
information
from the
sources
provided
1 
I didn’t take
any
information
on the earth’s
rotation
Group
cooperation
I participated,
discussed and
agreed in all
the creative
process of the
project
together with
my group
I participated,
discussed and
agreed in most of
the creative
process of the
project together
with my group
I participated,
discussed and
agreed in some
parts of the
creative process of
the project
together with my
group
I didn’t
participate,
discuss and
agree much in
the creative
process of the
project together
with my group
Creativity
I find my project
extremely
creative and
original
I find my
project very
creative and
original
I find my
project quite
creative and
original
I find my
project
similar to
other projects
Outcome
The final
project was a
real success
The final
project was
quite
successful
We had some
problems
with the final
project
The final
project didn’t
work
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My project: My Helsinki plan
4 
I took information
Gathering
information and on Helsinki from 3
or more sources o
resources
2
I took
information
on Helsinki
only from the
sources
provided
I participated,
I participated,
discussed and
discussed and
agreed in most of agreed in some
the creative
parts of the
process of the
creative process of
project together the project
with my group
together with my
group
1 
I didn’t take
any
information
on Helsinki
3
I took
information on
Helsinki from 1
or 2 sources
Group
cooperation
I participated,
discussed and
agreed in all
the creative
process of the
project
together with
my group
I didn’t
participate,
discuss and
agree much in
the creative
process of the
project together
with my group
Creativity
I find my
project
extremely
creative and
original
I find my
project very
creative and
original
I find my
project quite
creative and
original
I find my
project
similar to
other projects
Outcome
The final
project was a
real success
The final
project was
quite
successful
We had some
problems
with the final
project
The final
project didn’t
work
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Checklist
___ I got in touch with information on Planet Earth through a number of sources
___ I became familiar with the key concepts of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun and its
consequences
___ I used different resources to understand the content of the text on earth revolution
___ I investigated seasons and their length in different countries of the world
___ I analyzed how the change of seasons affects your environment
___ I reflected upon how seasons affect life in different countries of the world
___ I thought and shared solutions to the lack of sun light in winter in some areas of the world
___ I worked in groups, shared my ideas and came up with my own conclusions
___ I planned and discussed my project with the members of my group
___ I kept track and assessed my progress and my group’s during the process of recalling,
understanding, reflecting and applying the concepts to the project
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Congratulations for completing the session!
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