Students explain how the tilt of Earth's axis causes the seasons in both hemispheres, why the two hemispheres have opposite seasons, and why distance from the Sun is not the cause. They then describe how solar and lunar eclipses happen, why eclipses do not occur every month, and how the Moon and Sun cause high, low, spring and neap tides.
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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: The Earth, Sun and Moon: Seasons, Eclipses and Tides
Year 8 students (typically ages 12–13) 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 40 minutes for 23 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
Try Phases of the Moon Explained.
Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 8 · Science · The Solar System & SpaceName
Date
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Use the words tilt, orbit, rotate, shadow and gravity in your answers where they fit.
Earth rotates on its axis once a day and orbits (revolves around) the Sun about once every 365¼ days. Its axis is tilted at about 23.5°, and the axis keeps pointing in the same direction in space all the way around the orbit.
Because of this, for part of the year the southern hemisphere leans towards the Sun, and half an orbit later the northern hemisphere does. The hemisphere tilted towards the Sun has summer: the Sun climbs higher in the sky, its light hits the ground more directly and days are longer. The hemisphere tilted away has winter at the same time.
Between these two positions are the equinoxes, when neither hemisphere leans towards the Sun and day and night are about equal everywhere. The longest and shortest days of the year are the solstices.
A common mistake is to think the seasons are caused by Earth's changing distance from the Sun. Earth's orbit is almost a circle, and Earth is actually closest to the Sun during the northern hemisphere's winter.
An eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up and one body moves into the shadow of another.
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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