Earth and space

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 5 and 6 · Science

Earth and space: I can describe how the Earth, the Moon and the planets move, and explain day and night.

1. The Sun, the Earth and the Moon are all roughly the shape of a ball.

   This round 3D shape is called a sphere.

   A sphere is curved all over. From any side, it looks like a circle.

   Picture: Three spheres labelled Sun, Earth and Moon. Each is a solid round shape like a ball, curved all over. They are not drawn to scale.

2. Your turn: Which shape is most like the Sun, the Earth and the Moon?

   Choose one:

   • A flat circle, like a coin: coin
   • A sphere, like a ball: ball
   • A cube, with 6 flat faces: cube

   Answer

   The answer: A sphere, like a ball

   A sphere, like a ball. The Sun, the Earth and the Moon are all roughly spheres.

3. The Earth travels all the way round the Sun.

   The curved path it follows is called an orbit.

   The Moon travels round the Earth. As the Earth orbits the Sun, the Moon goes along with it.

   The Sun stays at the centre of the Earth's orbit. The Sun does not travel round the Earth.

   Picture: A drawing of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon. Arrows show the Earth going round the Sun and the Moon going round the Earth. Labels: Sun, Earth, orbit and Moon.

Words to know

sphere:

A 3D shape that is round all over, like a ball.

orbit:

The curved path one thing travels round another in space.

planet:

A huge ball of rock or gas that orbits a star, like the Sun.

solar system:

The Sun and everything that orbits it, including the 8 planets.

rotate:

To spin round. The Earth rotates once every 24 hours.