Science Learning Intentions: |
Science Success Criteria: |
Our goal is to:
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I can:
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Spinning in Space: |
Annotated Drawing:
Create an annotated drawing of what you have learnt during this unit. Make sure you include:
Reflection Questions:
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In a Spin:
Review:
Role Play:
Reflection:
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Interesting Information:
Night and day are the result of the Earth spinning on its axis; the Earth makes one complete rotation on its axis approximately every 24 hours. The side of the Earth facing the Sun is in daylight, while the side facing away is in the Earth’s own shadow (night). Although the Sun appears to move across the sky during the day, it is not movement by the Sun but the Earth’s rotation that causes the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky. The Earth spins in an anti-clockwise direction when viewed from the North Pole, so that the east coast of Australia moves into the sunlight first in the morning and sunrise is experienced two or three hours later (depending on daylight saving) on the west coast. |
Questions:
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Shadows at Play:
Shadows:
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Interesting Information:
Shadows are formed when the path of light is blocked by an object. Light travels in approximately straight lines. Light passing a sharp edge will diffract a little bit (i.e. bend into the shadow region). This effect is negligible in terms of everyday perception. Through investigating shadows, we can use this concept to provide information about the positions and movements of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Materials that block light are opaque, while materials that allow light to pass through them are transparent. The shape of a shadow is affected by:
When the position of the light source is right above the object, the object will cast a short shadow on the ground. As the light source moves downwards, the object will cast a longer shadow. This is why when the Sun is directly overhead, people and objects cast very small, short shadows. In the morning and afternoon, however, when the Sun is low on the horizon, they cast very long shadows. As the position of the Sun in the sky changes from East in the morning to West in the afternoon, the direction of shadows changes. The change in the position of a shadow throughout the day is what allows shadows to be used when telling the time using sundials.
Shadows are formed when the path of light is blocked by an object. Light travels in approximately straight lines. Light passing a sharp edge will diffract a little bit (i.e. bend into the shadow region). This effect is negligible in terms of everyday perception. Through investigating shadows, we can use this concept to provide information about the positions and movements of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Materials that block light are opaque, while materials that allow light to pass through them are transparent. The shape of a shadow is affected by:
- the shape of the object blocking the light
- how close the object is to the light source, and
- the position of the light source relative to the object, for example, whether it is above or at the same level as the object.
When the position of the light source is right above the object, the object will cast a short shadow on the ground. As the light source moves downwards, the object will cast a longer shadow. This is why when the Sun is directly overhead, people and objects cast very small, short shadows. In the morning and afternoon, however, when the Sun is low on the horizon, they cast very long shadows. As the position of the Sun in the sky changes from East in the morning to West in the afternoon, the direction of shadows changes. The change in the position of a shadow throughout the day is what allows shadows to be used when telling the time using sundials.
- What could the ball represent?
- What could the torch represent?
- What could the popsicle stick represent?
- What does this show about the shadows formed about the school?
- Why do shadows move during the day
Shapes and Sizes:
Interesting Information:
The Sun, Earth and Moon are all spheres. The Sun is the largest object in the Solar System. It is gigantic compared with the Earth, which is larger than the Moon. The Moon’s diameter is one-quarter that of the Earth’s. Although the Moon is much smaller than the Sun, when viewed from the Earth, they appear to be about the same size in the sky because the Moon is much closer to the Earth than the Sun. The distances between the major objects in the olar ystem can be difficult to imagine because they are so large. Light, which is the fastest thing in the Universe, takes about eight minutes to travel from the Sun to Earth, and just more than one second to travel between the Moon and Earth. This table represents the diameters of the Sun, Earth and Moon and the distances of the Sun and Moon from Earth in actual measurements (kilometres) and scaled-down measurements (metres, centimetres, millimetres). The scale measurements are based on the Sun’s diameter being equivalent to one metre. |
Night and Day:
The Sun is approximately 70 per cent hydrogen gas, which undergoes constant nuclear fusion to produce helium at its core and release energy as visible light and heat.
The Earth is the only habitable planet in the Solar System and, as far as we know, in the universe. The Earth’s atmosphere contains oxygen, which is necessary to support life. It also contains carbon dioxide, which acts like a blanket, keeping the Earth at a temperature that will support life. Earth is also the only planet in the Solar System with liquid water on its surface. The Moon is made of rock and has virtually no atmosphere. The Moon itself does not produce light we can see it from the arth only because the oon reects light from the un. |