Unit 13: The Earth, the Moon, and the Sun

Unit 13: The Earth, the Moon, and the Sun

This unit describes the relative positions of the sun, Earth, and moon and changes associated with them. Students will learn about eclipses, tides, and seasons.

Student Goals

• Understand why Earth can support life.
• Describe features of the moon.
• Identify solar and lunar eclipses.
• Identify the phases of the moon and the relative positions of the moon, Earth, and sun.
• Recognize the relationship of tides to the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and sun.
• Understand what causes the seasons.

Unit Focus

• Understand the relationships between events on Earth and the movements of the Earth, its Moon, the other planets and the Sun.
• Know how the characteristics of other planets and satellites are similar to and different from those on the Earth.
• Know the various reasons that Earth is the only planet in our Solar System that appears to be capable of supporting life as we know it.
• Know how climatic patterns on Earth result from an interplay of many factors (Earth’s topography, its rotation on its axis, solar radiation, the transfer of heat energy where the atmosphere interfaces with lands and oceans, and wind and ocean currents).