Earth's rotation and day/night
Science · Space Systems & Earth's History · conceptual
Use the idea of the Earth's rotation to explain day and night and the apparent movement of the sun across the sky
What mastery looks like
- Explain that the Earth rotates (spins) on its axis once every 24 hours
- Describe how this rotation causes day (facing the sun) and night (facing away)
- Explain that the sun appears to move across the sky because we are rotating, not the sun
Check your understanding
Can Earth's rotation and day/night explain that the sun doesn't actually move across the sky — it's the Earth spinning that makes it look like it does, and that's what causes day and night?
Prerequisites
Required first
Helpful