The Planet Earth

What Happens In Space?

plants

While veiwing this website, students will learn a variety of things about the planet Earth. The information about Earth relates to everyday life. I believe this site will be exciting and full of useful information for students.

Table of Contents

Georgia Performance Standard
Topic Websites
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Software Reviews

Georgia Performance Starndard
Science ~ Fourth Grade

S4E2 Students will model the position and motion of the earth in the solar system
and will explain the role of relative position and motion in determining sequence of the phases of the moon.
a. Explain the day/night cycle of the earth using a model.
b. Explain the sequence of the phases of the moon.
c. Demonstrate the revolution of the earth around the sun and the earth’s tilt to explain the seasonal changes.

Earth

Topic Websites

Once you get to the website, select the "Day and Night" icon on the far left.
This website is full of information pertaining to the day and night cycle of the Earth. It provides explicit detail along with diagrams to explain this topic.

Once you get to the website, select the "Day and Night" icon on the far left. Scroll down to the bottom and select the word "experiment." This is a wonderful way to demonstrate day and night. I believe it will help the students fully understand the concept.

This website is a great introduction to the phases of the moon. Each phase is labeled and defined. The descriptions are easy to understand. The site also provides the information on the moon each day.

This is a good site to explain how the revolution of the Earth around the sun and the Earth's tilt affect our seasons. The site requires the student to answer questions while they are reading. This insures that they are paying attention. However, the site does not just tell the student he/she is wrong, it explains why they are incorrect. This is a great tool for success.

This site has it all. It provides information on the three topics and provides images to help students understand. There are also links to other pages that offer more information on the topic. This is an awesome site.

Activity 1

1. Day and Night
The students will demonstrate the day and night cycle of the Earth.

2. PLO - The students will know, understand, and demonstrate the day and night cycle.

3.Materials:

The first website can be found by clicking on the rotating Earth. Once at the website, select "Day and Night" on the far left.

The second website can be found by clicking on the picture of the Earth representing day and night. Once at the website, select "Day and Night" on the far left. Scroll down to the bottom and select "experiments."

4. Procedures
The students will learn about the rotation of the Earth and how this rotation affects our day and night by visiting the first website. The students will also examine the illustrations as they read to obtain a visual understanding of day and night.

Once they understand the cycle of day and night, the students will demonstrate what they know. They will use the second website and follow the instructions. The students will do this demonstration using a lamp and their body.

5. Product: The students will use Kidspiration to create a diagram of how the Earth looks when the sun is facing one side. Some students will use the day and night topic to complete a PowerPoint demonstration and a Paint picture.

The image “http://www.kidsastronomy.com/images/sky_tonight_moon.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Activity 2

1. The Phases of the Moon
The students will be introduced to the phases of the Earth's moon.

2. PLO - The students will know and understand the phases of the moon. They will know and understand the names of the different phases and their appearances.

3. Materials:

The first website used in this activity can be found by clicking on the changing moon.
The second website can be found by clicking on the underlined word "worksheet."

4. Procedures
The students will view the website to become familiar with the phases of the moon. The website describes each phase and also provides information about the length of time the moon takes to complete these phases.

After reviewing the website, children will be asked to complete a review worksheet in order to apply the information on the website. The worksheet provides pictures of the different phases. The students are required to use their new knowledge to fill in the blanks.

5. Product: The students will be able to identify the phases of the moon in their night sky by using the software Kidspiration. They will also create their own phases with names and pictures. Some students will use the phases of the moon as their topic to review what they learned for a Powerpoint presentation and for a Paint picture.

The image “http://www.kidsastronomy.com/images/sky_tonight_moon_bottom.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Activity 3
1. Seasons
The students will view a website that explains and demonstrates why we have seasons.

2. PLO - The students will know and understand why we have seasons. They will understand how the revolution of the earth around the sun and the earth’s tilt causes seasons.

3. Materials:

The website for this activity can be found by clicking on the picture demonstrating the seasons.
Styrofoam circle
pencil

4. Procedures
The students will go to the website and follow the readings. They will read about why we have seasons. During the reading, there will be random questions to check what the student has learned. If the wrong answer is given, the student will be provided with a reason for the answer being incorrect.

Once the students have finished, they will demonstrate what they have learned. There needs to be five students to demonstrate. One student will represent the sun and the others will stand around the sun making a cross. The other four students will hold a Styrofoam circle in which they will stick their pencil through at an angle. This will represent the earth's on its "tilted" axis. They will then decide how to tell what season is taking place on their "Earth."

5. Product: The students will use the Magic School Bus software to view the position of the Earth as well as the revolution of the Earth around the sun. They will also be able to view the tilt of the Earth. Some students will this topic to create a PowerPoint presentation and a Paint picture.

The image “http://www.edirectsoftware.com/images/powerpoint03_large.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Software Review Template

Title of Software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Published by: Microsoft
How the software can be used: PowerPoint can be used in a variety of ways. The students can do a presentation of each of the topics. The class can be divided into three groups with each group assigned a different topic. The topics include, the day and night cycle of Earth, the phases of the moon, and the reason the revolution of the Earth and the Earth's tilt causes seasons.
The teacher could also use PowerPoint to make a bingo review game for the students. This will help the teacher test the students in their understanding of the topics.
Evaluate the software: Powerpoint is a very popular software with so many choices however, it takes a lot of time to understand how to use it, as well as just completeing it. The students will need to use this software in class which would take extra time.

The image “http://www.fayette.k12.il.us/99/paint/paintscreen.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Software Review Template

Title of software: Microsoft Paint
Published by: Microsoft
How the software can be used: The students can draw a picture for their topic to include in their PowerPoint. The picture will be their choice however, it must pertain to the topic. This will give the students a chance to use expression.
Evaluate the software: Paint can be a tricky software. The teacher should explain the different tools on the far right. If the students understand the tools, it easier for them to draw the picture.

Software Review Template

Title of software: The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System
Published by: Microsoft
Explain how the software can be used: This software allows the students to explore space with the gang from the Magic School Bus. The students can see the Earth and it's position in the solar system. They will also be able to see the other planets and their relationship and distance from Earth. The students can also see how the sun lights up one side of the Earth creating day and the other side of the earth is dark creating night.
Evaluate the software: I think this software is great. It might be a little young for the students but sometimes we need things spelled out to fully understand.

The image “http://www.enablemart.com/uploads/pimages/Kidspiration1.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Software Review Template

Title of software: Kidspiration
Published by: Inspiration Software Incorporated
Explain how the software can be used: This software has a section on the phases of the moon. The students will be able to use it to explore the phases. They can then make their own phases with names and pictures.
Evaluate the software: Once the students are shown how to use the software, they will be on their way. It is very child friendly. It will just take a little patience and time.

The image “http://www.enablemart.com/uploads/pimages/SpaceAcademyNEW.JPG” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

Software Review Template

Title of software: Space Academy
Published by: EDMARK
Explain how the software can be used: This software is full of information. It displays interactions between the sun, moon, and planets. The software also demonstrates an area for day and night, the phases of the moon, and the seasons. It is perfect for teaching about space.
Evaluate the software: The software is a good program, however it is full of so much information. The students may become overwhelmed. The teacher should probably do this as small group in the computer lab or in a quiet area.

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