The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

The Size and Distance between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun, Model

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The Size and Distance between the Sun, Earth, and Moon, Model

A 4th/5th grade STEM lesson

Alison Olcott

June 2023

Notes for teachers

In this activity, students will complete a Webquest to find the diameter of the Earth, Moon, and Sun AND will observe how the Earth orbits around the Sun and how the moon rotates around the Earth by creating a model.

List of Materials:

• Paper Plate (1 for each student)
• Card stock or poster board subcut
• Earth -trace a can or anything that will give you a diameter of about five inches (or use a compass).
• Moon - trace or anything that will give you a 1.5 inch diameter circle (or use a compass)
• Cut a 11 in x 1 inch rectangle to attached to the Sun and Moon
• Cut a 5 in x 1 in rectangle to attach from the Earth to the Moon
• Compass (to help draw circles for the Earth and Moon)
• Round-Head Fasteners (3 for each student)
• Markers & Crayons
• Webquest (link is in the presentation)

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Standards

Science:

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5.E2U1.7 - Develop, revise, and use models based on evidence to construct explanations about the movement of the Earth and Moon within our solar system

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Standards

Math:

4.NBT.A.3 Use place value understanding to round multi-digit whole numbers to any place.

4.MD.A.1 Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units including km, m, cm; kg, g; lb, oz.; l, ml; hr, min, sec.

Objective:

I can create a model to show the scale of distance between the Sun, Earth, and Moon by measuring the diameter.

Agenda

Day 1: Complete Webquest

Day 2: Create Models

Day 3: Put Models together

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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• How would you describe the size of and distance between Earth, the Moon, and the Sun?
• How does the Earth and the Moon orbit the Sun?
• How does the Moon orbit the Earth?

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Webquest

Webquest Data - Check your Work!

• Earth’s Diameter - 13,000 km*
• Moon’s Diameter - 4,300 km*
• Sun’s Diameter - 1, 392,000 km*
• Distance between the Sun and the Earth - 150,000,000 km
• How many Earths could you line up across the diameter of the Sun? 109 Earths
• How many Moons could you line up across the diameter of the Earth? 4 Moons

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*Estimates

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Create Earth Model with Data

Create a Moon Model with Data

Create Sun Model

Distance from the Sun to Earth

Construct Model

Assessment

• Students construct their model in an organized and well-planned way.
• Students calculated the Moon distance accurately.
• Student could draw a separate model to demonstrate the scale and orbit of each planet in relation to each other as an exit ticket.

Differentiation

• Precut the pieces of the model and assemble - have students decorate and write the data they recorded.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

• Students could find the radius of each planet, then find the diameter based on the radius.
• Students could create a more scaled model by converting KM to CM.
• Students could create a scaled model to the Sun and Earth to demonstrate the day and night.