Lesson Plans and Worksheets
Lesson Planet has greatly assisted me in finding appropriate worksheets to accompany my lesson plans. I recently switched from high school to junior high and needed assistance in finding grade appropriate material.
- Fresno, CA
- 09-13-11
Earth's Orbit Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Earth's Orbit educational resource ideas and activities
Students investigate comets. In this space science lesson, students study overhead transparencies of the orbits of Earth and a comet. Students identify various locations and times where comets would be visible from Earth.
A diagram of Earth's path around the sun, including the position of the moon, is displayed at the top of the worksheet. Five multiple questions get astronomers to analyze the diagram considering what is going on in the solar system. Use this activity after having upper elementary or middle schoolers model Earth's orbit with a light source representing the sun.
Young scholars construct a pendulum using a washer and thin fishing line. In this earth science lesson, students simulate Earth's rotation using the pendulum bob and swivel chair. They explain how this activity proves that the Earth is indeed rotating.
Leading the students to draw a representation of ellipses of planets, this handout will help understanding the planet movement around the sun. There are ten questions about the analysis of those orbits and a conclusino specifically about the Earth.
In this Earth worksheet, students review 13 terms associated with the Earth's rotation, revolution, and orbit. Students find the terms in a word search and then fill in the term next to its definition.
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a one page text about the planet Earth and its place in the solar system. Students complete a 7 question multiple choice exercise about the reading.
Sixth graders review the relationship between the Sun and the Earth. In groups, they use a globe and flashlights to show the shadows on the Earth during the different seasons. To end the lesson, they write in their journals about their observations.
Sixth graders investigate the relationship betwen the tilt of Earth's axis and its orbit around the sun. They observe a demonstration, and discuss the results of the demonstration.
In this solar eclipse worksheet, students solve seven problems about solar eclipses after making a model following five steps. They determine the different orbits for satellites, they determine the lengths of Earth's shadow and they find solutions to operating a satellite during a solar eclipse.
Students discover the path of Earth's orbit. In this seasonal lesson, students investigate the relationship between our uneven orbit around the Sun and the seasons on the Earth. Students create their own mock orbit using flashlights and a dark room.