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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: A Scientific Explanation to What Causes Day and Night

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains how the rotation and the axial tilt of the Earth are responsible for the phenomenon of day and night. Provides information about the Sun, the solar system, and the Earth, and how the circumference of the Earth was first measured...
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Website
NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Scijinks: Seasons

For Students 3rd - 9th
An explanation about the rotation of the Earth and why the Earth has seasons.
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Unknown Type
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Aaas: Project 2061: Topic: Weather and Climate Ii: Seasonal Differences

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Create a science test that checks for student understanding in science, for common misconceptions, as well as for correct ideas. This is a list of key ideas related to Weather and Climate II: Seasonal...
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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Weather & Climate: Seasons

For Students 3rd - 5th
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the topic of seasons and how they are caused by the Earth's rotation and orbit.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Our Restless Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This unit will use demonstrations and student examples to help students gain an understanding of rotation, revolution, and orbit. Through hands-on activities students will explore the concepts of day and night. Technology will be...
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Handout
NASA

Nasa: Space Place: How Long Is One Day on Other Planets?

For Students 3rd - 7th
Here on Earth a day takes 24 hours. How long are days on other planets in our solar system? Find out here in three different ways, whichever meets your learning style the best.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Foucault Pendulum

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a detailed description of the Foucault Pendulum and how it works. It was originally built to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Morning Sunshine

For Students 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about how the tilt of the Earth on its axis affects sunrises and sunstes. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Ministerio de Educación (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion: Astronomia Visible

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has maps of the nearest stars and constellations. Earth and star daily rotation, proper motion of the stars and many other topics about the solar system are also shown.Read phonetically
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Lunar Lollipops

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The students work in teams of two to discover the relative positions of the Earth, Sun and Moon that produce the different phases of the Moon. The students will be given a Styrofoam ball that they will attach to a pencil so that it looks...
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Activity
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Seasons

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site contains an animation showing how the seasons are produced by the tilt of Earth's rotating axis. Site also includes a short quiz over the topic of seasons.
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Interactive
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Ballistics and Orbits Model

For Students 9th - 10th
Experience a simulation of ballistic trajectories in relationship to Earth's orbit. Java 1.5 or more recent is required.
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Trb 3:1: Investigation 4: Day and Night

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson for third graders in which they learn about the rotation of the Earth on its axis and how this movement creates day and night. They also examine the orbit of the moon about the Earth and the Earth's orbit around the sun.
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Activity
Other

Center for Science Education: Eye on the Sky: What Makes Day and Night?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This activity will allow you to model day and night cycles. A rotating student holding a map (provided) models the earth. A lamp is used to model the sun. Numerous worksheets (pdf) and additional website resources are also provided.
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Article
Cornell University

Cornell University: Astronomy: Eratosthenes

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn how Greek mathematician Eratosthenes used geometry to estimate the circumference of the Earth.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Day and Night

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this flipchart students will understand how the Earth rotates during a 24 hour period giving us day and night.
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Activity
Math Is Fun

Math Is Fun: The Seasons

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the four seasons, when they occur in the northern and southern hemispheres, and why the seasons change as the Earth rotates around the Sun.
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Website
NASA

Nasa: Heliophysics: New Science of the Sun Solar System Connection

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA lists common and uncommon misconceptions about Sun-Earth Science. Site also provides links to activities and lesson plans as well as background reading.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Seasons

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this activity, students create a small model of the Earth using a styrofoam ball and a skewer. They then explore the relationship between the Earth and the Sun (a flashlight) to understand why it is hottest at the Equator, and why we...
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Handout
University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin: Reasons for the Seasons

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief explanation of the Earth's rotation around the Sun and how it relates to the amount of sunlight the Earth receives, and to the seasons. Includes two questions for students to respond to.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Weather

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart discusses the weather, sun, earth, day, night, and rotation.
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Unit Plan
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Extension: Tree House Weather Kids: What Causes the Season?

For Students 5th - 8th
Explore what causes the change of seasons on the Earth.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Global Wind Pattern on the Earth Without an Ocean, Axiz Tilt, and Rotation.

For Students 9th - 10th
Global wind pattern on the earth without an ocean, axiz tilt, and rotation.
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: The Sun Is the Center of the Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
See what you know about the solar system by taking this brief interactive quiz and learning module.

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