Science·Space Exploration·conceptual
Earth's Spin & Orbit
Understand that Earth moves in two ways: it rotates (spins) on its axis once every 24 hours causing day and night, and it orbits (travels around) the Sun once every 365 days, which is one year
Suggested ages 7–9
Learning journey
Your child is discovering how our solar system works — learning about Earth's movements that create day and night, exploring the eight planets and their features, and understanding how we use robots and telescopes to study space.
Evidence of understanding
- Demonstrate with a globe or ball that Earth's rotation causes day on the Sun-facing side and night on the opposite side
- State that one full rotation takes about 24 hours (one day)
- State that one full orbit around the Sun takes about 365 days (one year)
Assessment prompt
Can Earth's Spin & Orbit explain that we have day and night because the Earth spins, and that a year is the time it takes Earth to go all the way around the Sun?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.