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How fast does the Earth spin?

How fast does the Earth spin?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

How do we know the Earth is moving, and not the Sun?

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DISCUSS:

How fast is the Earth spinning? (How many miles or kilometers an hour?)

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Slide Image
Slide Image

planet


1 of 5

a large, round object in outer space that orbits a star
Slide Image

axis


2 of 5

an imaginary line that goes through the North Pole and South Pole of the Earth

rotate


3 of 5

to spin or turn around a central point, like the Earth around its axis
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model


4 of 5

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with
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circumference


5 of 5

the distance around a circle
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Featured Reviews

“AMAZING Really makes my job easy breaking it down :)”
· Matthew · Teacher
“This is a great lesson with great discussion topics. Most 5th graders think they understand Earth's rotation and they really don't. This lesson helps them make the concept of rotation causing day and night meaningful.”
· Liesha · Teacher
“My students enjoyed the ability to model how the earth moved, It made some of the ELL student compare and contrast their home location to other parts of the world”
· Celia · Teacher
“My students enjoyed getting to work with a partner to complete each challenge, and the learning stuck with them. It was a great lesson!”
· Katie · Teacher
“The students loved working together!”
· Arin-Marie · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
THIS LESSON WAS REVISED ON JULY 1, 2019. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students come to understand that the setting Sun isn’t moving, the Earth is spinning. In the activity, Spinning Earth, students use their bodies as a kinesthetic model of the Earth to understand how the speed of the Earth’s spin affects the length of a day.
Preview activity

I have a Mystery Pack

Earth Map printout 1 per student
Sun Model printout 1 per pair
Crayons
One needs to be yellow to color the Sun and the other should be a dark color such as purple, blue, or black. Colored pencils or markers will also work.
Details
2 crayons per student
Scissors
1 pair per student
Sticker Labels (1" x 3")
Tape also works. We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.
Details
4 labels per student
Prep Instructions

We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students will need a partner for the activity.

All students will be standing up and spinning in place throughout the activity with a place to view their paper Sun model. We find that placing the Sun model on a desk and standing about a foot behind the desk works well.

If you have a lamp or bright light, you can also use this as a model for the Sun. Just remind students NOT to look directly at the bulb.

Exploration

15 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Wrap-Up

5 mins

Extend this lesson

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

Unit Readings

Unit Readings

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.

Activities

Activities

  • 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.

Mini-lessons

Mini-lessons

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

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

Transcripts

Credits
 
Rotation Tx Lesson 1: How fast does the Earth spin?

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