Earth and space

Earth and space: I can explain day, night and a year, order the planets and describe the Moon's phases.

1. Why do we have day and night? Here are the Sun, the Earth and the Moon.

   The Sun lights up the half of the Earth that faces it. The other half is dark.

   A small person is standing on the lit half, so it is day for them.

   Picture: The Sun, the Earth and the Moon, labelled. The half of the Earth facing the Sun is lit and the other half is dark. A small person stands on the lit half.

2. Later, the small person is on the dark half of the Earth.

   Their side of the Earth faces away from the Sun, so it is night for them.

   The Sun has not gone away. It is still shining on the other half.

   So day and night happen because the Earth spins.

   Picture: The Sun, the Earth and the Moon, labelled. The half of the Earth facing the Sun is lit and the other half is dark. A small person stands on the dark half.

3. Your turn: Look at where the small person is standing on the Earth. It is night for them. Why?

   Picture: A drawing of three balls in space. A small person stands on the side of the blue and green ball that faces away from the big bright ball. Labels: Sun, Earth and Moon.

   Choose one:

   • The Sun has stopped shining.
   • Their side of the Earth faces away from the Sun.
   • The Sun has moved round to the other side of the Earth.

   Answer

   The answer: Their side of the Earth faces away from the Sun.

   Their side of the Earth faces away from the Sun, so it is dark there: night.