Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

What Do A.M. and P.M. Mean?

In this reading, students learn where "A.M." and "P.M." come from.

How Does a Leaf Know When to Change Its Color?

In this reading, students learn that leaves start changing color in the fall because the length of day changes in the fall.

The Many Names for a Full Moon

In this reading, students learn about different names Algonquian peoples have traditionally used for the full moon during different months of the year.

For a limited time, view archived reading extensions here.

• Earth in the Sun
  Position a globe so that light from the Sun shines on it in just the same way that sunlight shines on the Earth. As the Earth spins, the boundaries between “day” and “night” will move steadily across both your globe and the Earth. Follow these instructions to position your globe.
  Over the course of the day, compare the light on your globe to the light shown on this interactive map.
  A more detailed version of this activity can be found at Earth Learning Ideas.

• On the Move
  To track the movement of sunlight on Earth, you need a windowsill in the sun, a small mirror, and sticky notes. Place the mirror on the windowsill so that it reflects sunlight onto a wall. Write the time on a sticky note and place it in the spot of light.
  Have students predict where the spot of light will be in 15 minutes and mark that spot with a sticky note. While you wait to see if the prediction is right, have students discuss why they chose the spot they did.
  As the Earth turns, the angle of the sunlight on the mirror changes and the spot of light moves.

• Sky Dome
  Create a simple dome to model the Sun’s daily path.

You can elaborate student learning and engagement with Mystery Science mini-lessons.

• Why do places have different times? In this mini-lesson, students explore how the Earth's rotation is the reason we have different time zones around the world.

• Is there a pole at the North Pole? In this mini-lesson, students learn more about the Earth's axis and its relation to Earth's rotation.

If you are in an NGSS state, these mini-lessons support the DCI ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System