The solar system, the spinning Earth and the seasons
Answers are for parents and teachers.
1
Jupiter’s diameter is 142948 km and Earth’s is 12756 km. About how many times wider is Jupiter?
142948 ÷ 12756 is about 11 times.
2
On a sunny day, measure the shadow of a stick at three times. Write the table and say which was shortest. Do not look at the Sun.
Answers differ a little, but the shadow is shortest around noon.
3
Write two sentences to explain why Egypt is not hot in summer because the Earth is nearer to the Sun.
The Earth is slightly nearer in January, when it is winter. In summer the tilt makes the Sun higher and the days longer.
4
Sort into summer and winter crops: watermelon, orange, cucumber, wheat, zucchini, lettuce.
Summer: watermelon, cucumber, zucchini. Winter: orange, wheat, lettuce.
5
A friend says the Sun goes round the Earth every day. Explain what really happens.
The Earth spins from west to east, so the Sun only seems to move from east to west.