The Earth, Sun and Moon: How They Move — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 3 the solar system & space worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 3 · Science · The Solar System & SpaceThe Earth, Sun and Moon: How They Move — Answers
Part A: Moving through space
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
The Sun, the Earth and the Moon are all shaped like balls (spheres). The Sun is by far the biggest. The Earth is about four times wider than the Moon.
The Earth does two things at once. It spins on its axis once about every 24 hours, which gives us day and night. It also travels in a path around the Sun called an orbit. One orbit takes about 365 days — one year.
The Moon orbits the Earth. One trip around the Earth takes about a month (about 27 days). The Moon does not make its own light; we see it because sunlight bounces off it.
- Athe Earth
- Bthe Moon
- Cthe Sun
Answer: the Sun
The Sun is far bigger than the Earth, and the Earth is bigger than the Moon.
- Athe Moon
- Bthe Sun
- Cthe stars
- Dnothing
Answer: the Sun
The Earth orbits (travels around) the Sun.
- Aone day
- Bone week
- Cone month
- Dabout 365 days
Answer: about 365 days
One trip around the Sun takes about 365 days. We call this a year.
- Athe Sun only
- Bthe Earth
- CMars
- Dthe stars
Answer: the Earth
The Moon orbits the Earth (and goes around the Sun with the Earth).
- Athe Earth spinning once
- Bthe Moon orbiting the Earth
- Cthe Earth orbiting the Sun
- Dthe Sun spinning
Answer: the Earth spinning once
The Earth spins once on its axis in about 24 hours, giving one day and one night.
Part B: Orbits and sizes
- the Earth spinning once
- the Moon orbiting the Earth
- the Earth orbiting the Sun
- about a month
- about 365 days
- about 24 hours
Answer: the Earth spinning once → about 24 hours; the Moon orbiting the Earth → about a month; the Earth orbiting the Sun → about 365 days
Answer: orbit
Answer: Sun
Answer: Moon, Earth, Sun.
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: False
The Earth orbits the Sun. The Sun only seems to move across our sky because the Earth spins.
Answer: False
The Moon reflects sunlight.
Answer: True
The Earth spins and orbits at the same time.
Answer: True
That is about 365 days.
Part D: Working scientifically: a people model
Try it with friends or family. Keep the lamp safely on a table.
Sara, Ben and a lamp make a model in a large room. The lamp stands still in the middle. Sara walks in a big circle around the lamp. Ben walks in a small circle around Sara.
Answer: Sara is the Earth and Ben is the Moon.
Model answer: Sara (the Earth) walks all the way around the lamp (the Sun) once, spinning as she goes. Ben (the Moon) keeps walking around Sara the whole time. One trip around the lamp shows one year.
Success criteria:
- Earth goes once around the Sun
- Moon keeps orbiting the Earth
- Mentions the Earth spinning (optional extra)
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.