Earth and Moon Comparison

After the children have learned some facts about both the Earth and Moon they can create a Graphic Organizer to compare and contrast the Moon and Earth. They can use a Venn Diagram or other graphic organizer to list their facts. Here is an example of a Venn Diagram to get them started.

After they complete the graphic organizer they can write an essay that compares the two objects.

You can visit Learning Workroom's website for a FREE Venn Diagram Worksheet that you can download and print.

Go to: http://www.learningworkroom.com

Click on "Free Worksheets

Earth's Layers

Earth's Layers: core, mantle crust

Crust: outermost layer
Mantle: Middle layer
Core: innermost layer (Inner and Outer)

Clipart by www.graphicsfactory.com

A fun arts and crafts lesson for younger kids is to use clay and create a model of the Earth. Have the kids use 3 different colors of clay (4 colors if you want to show the inner and outer core). They could label each layer with little toothpick flags/markers.

Older kids can research the 3 layers and describe the relative temperature and composition of each layer of the Earth as well as the depth of each layer.

Earth's Rotation

clipart by www.GraphicsFactory.com

Earth's Rotation (turning or spinning on its axis) causes Day and Night.

One way to demonstrate this science concept is to use a globe to represent the Earth and a flashlight to represent the Sun. Demonstrate that if the Eastern Hemisphere is having day then the Western Hemisphere is having night. 

1 Earth Rotation takes approximately 24 hours.

Vocabulary: rotate rotation, day, night, Earth, axis

Younger students can pretend that they are the Earth and "rotate" showing day and night.

Older students can draw a picture and EXPLAIN why half the Earth has day while the other half has night.