First Grade - Science - Lesson 30 - The Earth Objective Observe a demonstration of the Earth's rotation, which we experience as day

and night. Suggested Books Branley, Franklyn M. What Makes Day and Night. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1986. Cole, Joanna. The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth. New York: Scholastic, 1987. Fowler, Allan. The Sun is Always Shining Somewhere. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1991. Gibbons, Gail. Sun Up, Sun Down. San Diego: HBJ, 1983. Schuett, Stacey. Somewhere in the World Right Now. New York: Knopf, 1995. Simon, Seymour. Earth. New York: Four Winds Press, 1984. Singer, Marilyn. Nine O'Clock Lullaby. New York: Scholastic, 1991. Materials A lamp A globe Drawing paper Crayons Procedure Ask: What is the name of the planet on which we live? (Earth) How many planets are there in our solar system? (nine) Review with the children that Earth is the third planet from the sun. Tell the children that the Earth is special because it is the only planet in the solar system that we know has both water and living things on it. Explain how the Earth moves around the sun, making sure they understand the sun does not move. It takes the Earth an entire year to travel all the way around the sun. Ask: How many months are there in a year? Say: Let's see if we can name them starting with January.

Next, tell them that not only does Earth move around the sun, but the earth also turns or rotates. Explain to the children that the Earth does not move quickly. One complete rotation of the Earth takes one day or 24 hours. Explain that although it looks as though the sun disappears at the end of the day, it really shines constantly. Show the children the following demonstration using a lamp and a globe: Because the Earth turns as it moves around the sun, when it is daytime on one part of the Earth, it is nighttime on the opposite side of the Earth. Place a globe next to a lamp (with the bulb uncovered, no lampshade). Point to a continent on the side of the globe facing the lamp and have a child name the continent to which you are pointing. Next, point to a continent on the opposite side of the globe. Have a child name the continent to which you are pointing. Ask a child to point to the side of the globe where it would be daytime. Have another child point to the side where it would be night. If possible, read Somewhere in the World Right Now or Nine O'Clock Lullaby to the children. (Both books are beautifully illustrated and poetically describe the activities of people in different time zones.) Ask: This morning when you were getting up and getting ready to come to school today, what time of day was it on the other side of the world? Give each child a piece of drawing paper. Have the children fold the paper in half and on one side have the children draw what they were doing this morning and on the other side have the children draw what a child on the other side of the world, say in Asia or Australia, was doing. Ask for volunteers to share their pictures with the class