Students learn that day and night happen because the Earth spins on its axis, explain why the Sun seems to move across the sky, correct common mix-ups and model day and night at home with a ball and a lamp.
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Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
Completed: Day and Night: Earth's Rotation
Year 4 students (typically ages 8–9) working on the solar system & space. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
About 30 minutes for 15 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
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Try The Sun: Our Nearest Star.
Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 4 · Science · The Solar System & SpaceName
Date
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Remember: day and night come from the Earth spinning, not from the Sun moving around us.
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
The Earth is shaped like a ball. It spins around an imaginary line through its middle called its axis. This spinning is called rotation.
The Earth spins around once in about 24 hours. The Sun only lights up the half of the Earth that is facing it. On that half it is day. On the half facing away from the Sun it is night.
As the Earth turns, places move from the dark side into the sunlight (morning) and later from the sunlight into the dark (evening).
The Sun seems to move across the sky, rising in the east and setting in the west. But the Sun is not moving around us — we are turning!
Write True or False.
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
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Worksheet · Year 6 · The Solar System & Space · Level 2 · Standard
Worksheet · Year 6 · The Solar System & Space · Level 2 · Standard
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