Science - Planet Earth -

• Science
• 3rd Grade

Earth

The speed of the Earth turning at the equator is close to 1,000 mph. 

71% Water

Earth's Population : 7.5 billion

Today we are learning all about the planet Earth. This is the start of our unit study on planets. 

Some fun facts about the Earth : The Earth is 71% water! That means only  29% of Earth is land. 

Earth's population in 2017 was up to 7.53 BILLION! Isn't that amazing! 

The Earth is constantly spinning. We can't feel it moving, but we are always spinning in one direction. At the equator, the Earth is spinning at about 1,000 miles per hour. (Remember, the equator is the area where the Sun's rays hit more directly on the planet, and it's very hot and muggy in those areas almost year around.) 

Continents 

Oceans

We are going to memorize the names of the continents and oceans by listening to some fun songs. Learning the names in the same order will help us memorize them. 

Right now, we are just going to look at this world map. 

Remember there are 7 continents and 5 oceans. 

Who wants to point out the oceans for me? 

Who wants to point out the continents for me?

The southern ocean is a newer named ocean. 

What ocean is closest to where you live?

What continent do you live on?

Has anyone been to another continent? 

What oceans have you been to? 

Let's learn the 7 continents on the Earth. This song will help us memorize the names and locations. If we sing the song in the same order every time, this will help us remember the names!

What continent do we live on?

1. Africa
2. Europe
3. North America
4. South America

We are going to do the same thing with the oceans. Knowing the song helps us remember all the ocean names! 

What is the name of the newest ocean most recently named?

1. Indian Ocean
2. Arctic Ocean
3. Southern Ocean
4. Northern Ocean

Earth's Orbit Around the Sun

Earth's orbit around the sun: 

• About 93 million miles from the sun 
• Takes 365 days to complete one orbit
• Orbit is slightly elliptical in shape
• Closest to sun during Janurary
• Farthest from sun during July

This picture is not correct in showing the shape of the orbit of the Earth, but, this gives you a general idea of the Earth spinning and then orbiting the sun at the same time. The moon stays with the Earth on the journey around the sun.

The Earth travels in an oval shape around the sun. 

Fun fact : The Earth is closest to the Sun in January. (Isn't this strange? We are deep in winter and cold weather at this point, but we are in fact closest to the sun during the month of January!)

Another Fun Fact : We are farthest from the Sun in July. Right in the middle of summer and hot days by the pool, we are actually the farthest away from the sun! 

During what month is Earth the CLOSEST to the Sun?

1. March
2. January
3. July
4. August

Fun Facts About Earth

Okay students! It's now time for you to show me what you have learned before we take our assessments. Let's use our smart devices to send facts to to the "mind map" that you see here. We need to add in all the facts we have learned to complete this mind map. 

Let's list the continents!
Sing the song to help
you remember!

Remember the song we are learning to list the continents? Sing the song now and let's add all the continents you can remember! 

List all the oceans!
Sing the song to help
you remember!

Just like before, sing the song to help remember the names for the oceans. Let's fill up this mind map with all the names of the oceans!

Worksheet

• Take your time to color the continents each a different color
• Label the continents
• Label the oceans
• Show where you live