Experience a science simulation illustrating the Copernican theory of Earth's orbit around the sun.

Lesson plan addresses misconceptions about seasonal changes and Earth's orbit through a pre-lesson survey and follow-up experiments to scientifically study the answers to questions found in the survey. Includes great teacher background...

The Swiss Propulsion Laboratory is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is the development of means of lifting civilian payloads into low-earth orbit at reasonable prices.

Why do some regions experience full-time heat while others are reckoning with frigid temperatures and snow? And why are the seasons reversed in the two hemispheres? Rebecca Kaplan explains how the shape of the Earth's orbit around the...

A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on how the Earth's tilt on its axis, its rotation, and its orbit around the Sun give us a 24-hour day, a 365-day year, and our seasons.

Move the sun, earth, moon, and space station to see how it affects their gravitational forces and orbital paths. Visualize the sizes and distances between different heavenly bodies, and turn off gravity to see what would happen without it.

An interactive simulation that teaches about gravitational force, circular motion, and astronomy by manipulating the sun, earth, moon, and a space station to observe the effects of gravity and orbital paths. This simulation can either be...

Experience a simulation of ballistic trajectories in relationship to Earth's orbit. Java 1.5 or more recent is required.

Presents an informative answer to the question "What is the speed of the turning of the Earth?"

Facts about the Earth including its orbit, its atmosphere, and its landforms. Includes a discussion question on seasons, with facts about them, and the answer. A linked page covers similar material in a "Level 2" version, and has a...

Help Sarah Jane and her team put the solar system's planets back in order. Following the activity, read more about the sun, the Earth, and its moon, and then take a quick quiz to check for understanding.

This unit of study explores the International Space Station through STEM experiences in space science education. Learners become a spacecraft crew and launch from Earth to discover how microgravity affects the orbit of the International...

A professional development video exploring students misconception over the reason for Earth's season. This video addresses a way to help students understand how Earth's orbit contributes to the seasons. [11:56]

Review planets orbiting in the solar system using this study guide.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Orbital motion and why it occurs, and the orbits of the Earth around the sun and the moon around the Earth.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the size and shape of planet orbits.

This kinesthetic activity will demonstrate concepts like rotation and orbit, clarify movement and direction, and help students understand why earthlings see different things in the sky.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines the eight planets of our solar system and their orbits and rotation.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines the eight planets of our solar system, their orbits, and rotation.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How objects in the solar system orbit around each other.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How objects in the solar system orbit around each other.

A slideshow exploring Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun. Learn that because of Earth's axis tilt we experience the seasons!

This site is astronomy for kids and teachers! Here students can learn about the planet Earth of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun.

Picture of the Earth with an astronaut flying around in orbit.