Essential Knowledge #5 It is essential for students to know that: ● Earth rotates (spins) on its axis and completes one rotation in 24 hours. ● Earth rotates from west to east, therefore, the Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west. ● Because of this rotation, only the side of Earth facing the Sun is lit and therefore experiences day; the side of Earth not facing the Sun experiences night. Essential Knowledge #6 It is essential for students to know that objects on Earth cast shadows that help show Earth’s rotation. The angle of the Sun, low in the sky to higher in the sky, changes the length of the shadow cast behind an object. ● As Earth rotates, the Sun appears higher in the sky, and the shadows get shorter. ● In the morning, the Sun appears low in the sky, so objects cast long shadows. ● At noon, with the Sun overhead, objects cast short shadows or no shadow at all. ● In the evening, as Earth continues to rotate, and the Sun appears lower in the sky, the shadows get longer again.
Essential Knowledge #5 It is essential for students to know that: ● Earth rotates (spins) on its axis and completes one rotation in 24 hours. ● Earth rotates from west to east, therefore, the Sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west. ● Because of this rotation, only the side of Earth facing the Sun is lit and therefore experiences day; the side of Earth not facing the Sun experiences night. Essential Knowledge #6 It is essential for students to know that objects on Earth cast shadows that help show Earth’s rotation. The angle of the Sun, low in the sky to higher in the sky, changes the length of the shadow cast behind an object. ● As Earth rotates, the Sun appears higher in the sky, and the shadows get shorter. ● In the morning, the Sun appears low in the sky, so objects cast long shadows. ● At noon, with the Sun overhead, objects cast short shadows or no shadow at all. ● In the evening, as Earth continues to rotate, and the Sun appears lower in the sky, the shadows get longer again.
Essential%20Knowledge%20for%20space.docx