Prek-2 A1

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 08/22/04

3-4

G3. Describe earth's rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

What is the shape of the earth?

Does the earth move?

How does the earth move?

What is an axis?

Elaboration
To truly understand the earth's rotation and revolution is very challenging. Please see developmental implications below.

Specific Ideas

Like all planets and stars, the earth is approximately spherical in shape. Benchmarks 4B1.

The rotation of the earth on its axis every 24 hours produces the nigh-and-day cycle.Benchmarks 4B1.

To people on earth, this turning of the planet makes it seem as though the sun, moon, planets, and stars are orbiting the earth once a day.Benchmarks 4B1.

The earth's one-year revoltion around the sun, because of the tilt of the earth's axis, changes how directly sunlight falls on one part or another of the earth. SFFA p. 43.

This difference in heating (above bullet) different parts of the earth's surface produces seasonal variations in climate. SFAA. p. 43.

Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion. Those motions explain such phenomena as the day, the year, phases of the moon, and eclipses. NSES D3b, 5th-8th.

Developmental & Instructional Implications
Explanations of the day-night cycle, the phases of the moon, and the seasons are very challenging for students. To understand these phenomena, students should first master the idea of a spherical earth, itself a challenging task. Similarly, studetns must understand the concept of "light reflection" and how the moon gets its light from the sun before they can understand the phases of the moon. Finally, students may not be able to understand explanations of any of these phenomena before they reasonably understand the relative size, motion, and distance of the sun, moon, and the earth. Benchmarks, psg. 335-336.

For good illustrations of misconceptions, see Driver pgs. 169-173.

Examples

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Curriculum Organizing Questions	What is the shape of the earth? Does the earth move? How does the earth move? What is an axis?
Elaboration	To truly understand the earth's rotation and revolution is very challenging. Please see developmental implications below.
Specific Ideas	Like all planets and stars, the earth is approximately spherical in shape. Benchmarks 4B1. The rotation of the earth on its axis every 24 hours produces the nigh-and-day cycle.Benchmarks 4B1. To people on earth, this turning of the planet makes it seem as though the sun, moon, planets, and stars are orbiting the earth once a day.Benchmarks 4B1. The earth's one-year revoltion around the sun, because of the tilt of the earth's axis, changes how directly sunlight falls on one part or another of the earth. SFFA p. 43. This difference in heating (above bullet) different parts of the earth's surface produces seasonal variations in climate. SFAA. p. 43. Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion. Those motions explain such phenomena as the day, the year, phases of the moon, and eclipses. NSES D3b, 5th-8th.
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Explanations of the day-night cycle, the phases of the moon, and the seasons are very challenging for students. To understand these phenomena, students should first master the idea of a spherical earth, itself a challenging task. Similarly, studetns must understand the concept of "light reflection" and how the moon gets its light from the sun before they can understand the phases of the moon. Finally, students may not be able to understand explanations of any of these phenomena before they reasonably understand the relative size, motion, and distance of the sun, moon, and the earth. Benchmarks, psg. 335-336. For good illustrations of misconceptions, see Driver pgs. 169-173.
Examples