Relationship Between the
Earth, Moon and Sun
THINK – PAIR - SHARE
What is the difference between
rotation and revolution?
Think to yourself and discuss your thoughts
with a partner.
Let’s compare…
Engage – Darkness at Night
Read the following scenario and choose
which friend you agree with. Be prepared
to discuss your answer.
Night and Day
The sun appears to move across the sky but it
is actually the EARTH that’s turning.
The Earth ROTATES on its axis once every 24
hours causing day/night.
The Moon also rotates on
its axis.
Answer: Talia
Months
The moon travels around the Earth and takes
less than a month to complete its orbit.
The moon REVOLVES around the Earth.
Years
The Earth travels around the Sun and takes
365.25 days to complete its orbit.
The Earth REVOLVES around the Sun.
Think – Pair – Share
Why do we have seasons on Earth?
Think to yourself and discuss your thoughts
with a partner.
What Causes Seasons?
The Earth's seasons are not caused by the
differences in the distance from the Sun throughout
the year (these differences are extremely small).
The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth's
axis. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the
globe are oriented (pointed) towards the Sun at
different times of the year.
What causes seasons?
Summer is warmer than winter (in each
hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the
Earth at a more direct angle and the days
are much longer than the nights during the
summer.
During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the
Earth at an extreme angle, and the days are
very short.
Directness of the Sun’s Rays
Seasons
Label the Seasons diagram in your foldable
with the correct seasons for both the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Solstices
Solstices occur when Earth's axis is pointed directly toward our
Sun. This happens twice a year during Earth's orbit.
Summer Solstice— the first day of summer
Occurs near June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere
the north pole is tilted toward the Sun
the longest day of the year
Winter Solstice— the first day of winter
Occurs near December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere
the north pole is tilted away from the Sun
the shortest day of the year
When are the winter and summer solstices in the Southern
Hemisphere?
Equinoxes
Equinoxes are days in which Earth’s axis is not pointed
toward our Sun. Every location on our Earth (except the
extreme poles) experiences 12 hours of daylight and
12 hours of darkness.
Vernal Equinox— the first day of spring
Occurs March 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere
Autumnal Equinox— the first day of fall
Occurs on September 22 or 23 in the Northern
Hemisphere
When are the vernal and autumnal equinoxes in the
Southern Hemisphere?
Going Through a Phase
Complete the Moon Phase probe.
Read the thoughts of other students and explain
which student you agree with on the paper
provided.
5 minutes
Four Corners
Around the room are the names of the students whose
ideas were on the probe – “ Going Through a Phase”
Move to the student you agreed with and create a
poster that describes your groups thinking.
As we begin to share thoughts, you will be given an
opportunity to share.
Sofia’s Right!!!!!!!
Here’s why!
Moon Phases
Moon Phases
The revolution of the Moon around the Earth
makes the Moon appear as if it is changing
shape in the sky.
From Earth, we see the Moon grow from a thin
crescent to a full disk or full moon and then
shrink back to a thin crescent again before
vanishing for a few days.
Moon phases are grouped by either: waning or
waxing.
New Moon - is not visible from Earth. The moon is
between the Sun and the Earth. The dark side is
facing us.
Waxing Crescent - waxing means that the bright
side is increasing. The right side is the bright
side.
First Quarter - the entire right side of the moon is
illuminated. The moon looks like a half circle.
Waxing Gibbous - gibbous means that more
than one half is visible, but it is not quite full
Full Moon - the moon is full and bright. It looks like
a large circle. The illuminated side is facing us.
Waning Gibbous - the moon appears more than half
but not quite full. Waning means that the
illuminated side is decreasing. The left side is the
bright side.
Last Quarter - left half of the moon is illuminated.
The illuminated side is decreasing.
Waning Crescent - less than one half of the moon is
illuminated. The amount of light continues to
decrease.
How do I tell if a moon is WANING or WAXING?
Complete the Venn diagram.
Waning
Waxing
WANING or WAXING?
Complete the Venn diagram.
Waning
Waxing
Card Sort – Moon Phases
With a partner, grab a set of Moon Phases
cards and match the picture, name and
description of the phase.
Raise your hand for the teacher to check
your work when you are done.
Reinforce: Label the Moon Phases
Tides

Tides are a change in the ocean water level,
typically reaching a high and low level twice a
day.

Tides result from the pull of gravity on Earth’s
waters by the moon, sun and Earth itself.

The result of this tidal pull is a bulge in the ocean
water almost inline with the position of the moon;
one bulge toward the moon and one on the
opposite side of the earth, away from the moon.
Tides
Spring Tide
When the Earth, Moon and Sun are in
line, the combined effect of the Moon's and
Sun's pull on Earth's water is at its greatest,
resulting in the greatest ranges between
high and low tide. This called a "spring"
tide (from the water springing or rising up).
Neap Tide
When the earth, moon and sun are at
right angles to each other, the pull of the
moon and the pull of the sun partially cancel
each other out. The resulting tide, called a
"neap" tide, has the smallest range
between high and low tide.