lesson 12 - earth's orbit and stars

Big Idea:
  • Stars appear in the sky in a predictable annual pattern. 
Purpose of the Lesson:
To model the annual orbit of Earth around the sun, students carry a globe around a light representing the sun to observe the relative positions of the globe and the “sun” throughout a year. In addition, students become aware that different stars are visible at different times of the year. 

why do the stars change with the seasons?

Student-Led Component:

  • Open your Earth In Space document. 
  • Scroll to the bottom.  Hit enter twice.  Type Lesson 12 - Earth's Orbit and Stars.
  • Hit enter twice and work with your science partner to answer the following questions.

  1. What time of year can you see Scorpius?
  2. What constellations can you see in March?
  3. Why can't you see Orion in the summer?
  4. What evidence do you have that the earth orbit the sun?
  5. Explain how you KNOW that the earth revolves around (orbits) the sun using evidence from today's lesson.
  6. Explain that when it is day time on earth, we are facing the sun and we see no stars (other than the sun). And then show how when it is night time on earth, we are facing away from the sun and we can see stars.
  7. Explain how different stars are visible at different times of the year.
  8. Explain how as the Earth orbits the sun, the same stars become visible at the same point in that orbit.