Basic Science and Technology – Primary 6 Weekly Short Class Lesson Notes for Second Term

WEEK 4 – THE EARTH AND ITS MOVEMENT – ROTATION, REVOLUTION AND ECLIPSES

THE EARTH AND ITS MOVEMENT 

The Earth is the planet we live on. It is round like a ball and moves in space.

The Earth has two main movements: rotation and revolution.

1. Rotation of the Earth

Rotation is the spinning of the Earth on its own axis.

It takes 24 hours (1 day) to complete one rotation. Rotation of the Earth causes day and night. The Earth rotates from west to east, which is why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Example/Activity – Use a globe and a flashlight to show how one side is light (day) and the other is dark (night).

 

2. Revolution of the Earth

Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun.

It takes 365 days (1 year) to complete one revolution. The earth’s revolution causes seasons (summer, autumn, winter, spring). The path of revolution is slightly oval-shaped, called an orbit.

Example/Activity – Use a ball (Earth) and a lamp (Sun) to show how the Earth moves around the Sun.

 

3. Other Effects of Earth’s Movement

Rotation → Day and night

Revolution → Seasons and change in the length of the day

The tilt of the Earth also affects the seasons.

Summary – The Earth moves in two ways: rotation, which causes day and night, and revolution, which causes seasons.

 

THE EARTH, THE MOON AND THE SUN

1. The Earth is the planet we live on. It is round like a ball and moves in space. The Earth has two main movements: rotation (causing day and night) and revolution (causing seasons).

 

2. The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth, meaning it revolves around the Earth. It is smaller than the Earth and does not produce its own light. The Moon reflects light from the Sun, which is why we can see it at night.

Key Facts about the Moon:

Takes about 27 days to revolve around the Earth.

Causes tides in the oceans due to its gravitational pull.

Appears in phases: new moon, crescent, half moon, gibbous, full moon.

 

3. The Sun is a star and is the main source of light and heat for the Earth. It does not move around the Earth; instead, the Earth revolves around it.

The Sun is important for:

• Day and night

• Growth of plants (photosynthesis)

• Warmth and climate

 

4. Relationships Between the Earth, Moon, and Sun

Earth rotates on its axis → causes day and night.

Earth revolves around the Sun → causes seasons.

Moon revolves around the Earth → causes the phases of the Moon and tides.

The Sun, Earth, and Moon cause eclipses:

Solar eclipse → Moon blocks the Sun from the Earth.

Lunar eclipse → Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.

Summary – The Earth is a planet that rotates and revolves; the Moon is its natural satellite; the Sun is a star that gives light and heat. Together, their movements cause day and night, seasons, tides, and eclipses.

 

10 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE EARTH AND ITS MOVEMENT – ROTATION, REVOLUTION AND ECLIPSES

INSTRUCTION – Choose the correct answer from the options A – D. 

1. The Earth rotates on its axis to cause ______. 

A. seasons

B. day and night

C. tides

D. eclipse

 

2. One complete rotation of the Earth takes ______. 

A. 12 hours

B. 365 days

C. 27 days

D. 24 hours

 

3. The Earth revolves around the Sun to cause ______. 

A. seasons

B. day and night

C. moon phases

D. tides

 

4. One complete revolution of the Earth around the Sun takes ______. 

A. 27 days

B. 30 days

C. 365 days

D. 24 hours

 

5. The Moon is called a natural satellite because it ______. 

A. gives light

B. revolves around the Earth

C. moves around the Sun

D. causes seasons

 

6. The Moon appears bright at night because it ______. 

A. reflects light from the Sun

B. produces its own light

C. rotates very fast

D. moves closer to Earth

 

7. Which of these is caused by the Moon’s gravitational pull?

A. Day and night

B. Seasons

C. Tides

D. Eclipse

 

8. A solar eclipse happens when ______. 

A. Earth comes between Sun and Moon

B. Moon comes between Sun and Earth

C. Sun blocks the Moon

D. Moon disappears

 

9. The Sun is important because it ______. 

A. gives heat and light

B. produces tides

C. causes lunar phases

D. rotates around the Moon

 

10. Which direction does the Earth rotate?

A. East to West

B. North to South

C. South to North

D. West to East

 

FILL IN THE GAP QUESTIONS

11. The spinning of the Earth on its axis is called ______.

12. The movement of the Earth around the Sun is known as ______.

13. One complete rotation of the Earth takes ______ hours.

14. The Moon is the natural ______ of the Earth.

15. The Sun is a ______ that gives light and heat to the Earth.

 

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

16. What is rotation of the Earth?

17. What does the rotation of the Earth cause?

18. What is revolution of the Earth?

19. Mention one importance of the Sun to the Earth.

20.State one thing the Moon does for the Earth.

 

ANSWER KEYS

1. B 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. B 6. A 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. D 11. rotation 12. revolution 13. 24 14. satellite 15. star

16. Rotation is the spinning of the Earth on its axis.

17. It causes day and night.

18. Revolution is the movement of the Earth around the Sun.

19. The Sun provides light and heat.

20. The Moon helps to cause tides in the oceans.