Standard 1, Objective 2

Utah Core, 3rd Grade Science

Standard 1, Objective 2 

Describe the movement of Earth and the moon and the apparent movement of other bodies through the sky.

1. Describe the motions of Earth (i.e., the rotation [spinning] of Earth on its axis, the revolution [orbit] of Earth around the sun). 
2. Use a chart to show that the moon orbits Earth approximately every 28 days. 
3. Use a model of Earth to demonstrate that Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours to produce the night and day cycle. 
4. Use a model to demonstrate why it seems to a person on Earth that the sun, planets, and stars appear to move across the sky. 

Demonstration

Read aloud the book, "The Moon Seems to Change," by Franklyn M. Branley. Discuss with the class why the moon seems to move around the earth and seems to change its shape.

http://www.amazon.com/Seems-Change-Lets-Read-Find-Out-Science/dp/0064450651

Activity

Bring Oreos to school and print the following worksheet. Show kids how to cut cream on oreos in order to create the different phases of the moon. Once they have shown you the correct phases, they can eat their cookies.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Phases-of-the-Moon-With-Oreo-Cookies-1135117

Essential Questions

1. Why does the earth seem to move across the sky?

2. Why does the moon seem to change shapes in the sky?