The Solar System

Warm-up
How many planets are in our solar system? What happens if the moon moves in between earth and the sun?

Earth
The earth, the third planet from the sun, is tilted as it spins on its axis. -It takes 24 hours for earth to make one rotation. -It takes earth 365 days to orbit the sun. This is called a revolution
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es0408/es0408page01.cfm?chapter_no=04

Since the earth is tilted, the part of the earth above the equator has a different amount of sunlight than the half below the equator. These two sections are called hemispheres HEMI- Half SPHERE: 3D circle The top half is the northern Hemisphere ________________________ The bottom half is the Southern hemisphere

Earth

Seasons
The location of the earth around the sun determines the four seasons that we experience on earth. Since the earth is tilted, the season in the northern hemisphere will be the opposite of the season in the southern hemisphere at any given time.
http://videos.syracuse.com/poststandard/2013/06/earth_orbit_around_the_sun.html

Earth, Moon, and Sun

The moon rotates around the earth. The earth (and moon) rotates around the sun. The earth is constantly spinning on its axis. The moon is also constantly spinning on its own axis.

Closure
Write out in your own words what would happen if the earth did not spin on its axis. When you are done, read your reason to your neighbor and have them read theirs. Then see how your ideas are similar or different.

Homework
Every night this week, draw what the moon looks like to you.

The Moon

Warm-up
Draw what the moon looked like last night and I will come by and sign it.

The moon completes one spin in the same amount of time it takes to orbit once around the earth. One revolution. This is why we always see the same side of the moon every time it is full. The moon is in a different place every night. It follows a pattern which we call the moons phases

With a partner/small group

Label the picture with the phases of the moon. All planets/moons orbit counterclockwise (to the left)

Phases of the moon

Eclipses
When the moon is full or new it is usually either slightly above or below earth but when it is directly in between or directly behind, an eclipse occurs. Lunar Eclipse: the Moon is in the earths shadow. Solar Eclipse: The moons shadow is seen on earth because the moon is in between earth and the sun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-X4QmWpjBM

Closure
Why do we always see the same side of the moon? (in your own words) What phase was the moon in last night according to your homework? How long does it take for the moon to make one revolution around the earth? Homework: continue drawing the moon every night.

Space and other Planets

Warm-up
List all of the stuff you know is in our solar system

Planets: largest bodies in our solar system Sun: large star, our solar systems source of heat and light Moons: orbit planets. Asteroids, Meteors, Comets: Small rocks or other particles moving through space. Dust Gases Empty space

Whats out there?

Why Earth?
Lets make a list: -

Mercury: no atmosphere, nighttime can reach -279 degrees. Venus: daytime temperature can reach 900 degrees Earth: Magnetic field to protect humans. 1 moon Mars: Very red. You weigh less on mars. 2 moons Jupiter: 318 times the size of earth. 64 moons Saturn: Has rings of water, ice and rocks. 62 moons Uranus: Tilted almost sideways. Made of mostly ice. 27 moons Neptune: Methane gas makes it blue. 19 moons

Whats on other planets?

Planets differ in shape, color, gases, moons, etc.

Writing to turn in/finish for HW

With what we have learned about our solar system, explain in your own words the basic structure of our solar system and how humans can survive only on earth.