Earth+Within+the+Solar+System

=Kevin Aurand = =kta5@uakron.edu =

[|Mr Aurand's Delicious Link]

=Earth Within the Solar System=

A 5th grade lesson based on the Ohio Academic Content Standard, "Explain the characteristics, cycles and patterns involving Earth and its place in the solar system" (Ohio Department of Education).


 * [[image:images.jpg width="554" height="267"]] ||
 * images.google.com ||

Earth is the third planet from the sun. It is the largest of the terrestrial planets (the 4 nearest planets to the sun) and is often referred to as the World...our home. The Earth rotates on an invisible axis that runs through the north and south poles of the planet. This invisible axis is slightly tilted (more on this below). While the Earth //rotates// on its invisible axis, it also //revolves// around the sun. The Earth rotates approximately 365 times during one entire revolution. Since one revolution equates to one //year//, and one rotation equates to one //day,// the Earth has 365 days in one year!

The tilt of the Earth's axis is very significant. It is titled at approximately 23 degrees (a very slight tilt). This tilt, however, gives the Earth its four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The Earth's tilt allows it to receive more direct sun rays during the summer seasons and less direct sun rays during the winter seasons. When an area on Earth receives more direct sun rays it becomes hotter. Likewise, when an area of the Earth receives less sun rays it becomes cooler. Hence summer is hot and winter is cold!

The Earth is the only planet in our solar system that is able to support life. Earth has all the right ingredients for life to flourish. First, our planet contains an abundance of water. Water is essential for life. Second, Earth's atmosphere is composed mostly of Oxygen and Nitrogen. We would not be able to breath if we did not have oxygen in our atmosphere. Finally, Earth is just the right distance from the sun to maintain a pleasant temperature. Temperatures on Earth range from roughly -100 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. While those may seem like extreme temperatures, humans typically live in more moderate temperatures within that range.