Copy of Lesson 8/9 Study Guide

STUDY GUIDE Lesson 8/9 - 30 Question Test

Test on Friday May 1, 2026

I can define a day, month, and year according to the movements of the sun, moon, and earth.
I can describe what the rotation and revolution of Earth are.
I understand the orbital plane and how circumpolar and seasonal stars work
I can identify the two primary causes for Earth’s seasons.
I can explain what a solstice and equinox is and when they occur

Lesson 8 Sec 1 - Earth’s Rotation Textbook pgs. 102-103

I can define celestial objects and give an example. A celestial object is an object in space that is not placed there by humans. An example of a celestial object would be our milky way and all of the planets in it.

I can explain how the earth rotates. The Earth rotates in 2 ways, rotation and revolution. Rotation occurs as the Earth spins around its axis, counter clockwise in 24 hours. Revolution occurs as the earth orbits around the sun in 365.25 days as a year.

I can tell you what the rotational period of earth is. Earth rotates around itś axis in 24 hours causing day and night to complete a day.

I can tell you what an axis is and where it points to in the northern hemisphere. An axis is an imaginary line that the Earth rotates around, the axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees towards Polaris, the North star.

Lesson 8 Sec 2- Earth’s Revolution Textbook pg 104-105

I can explain how Earth revolves around the sun. The Earth revolves around the sun in an orbit that takes 365.25 days to complete, marking a new year.

I can tell you the orbital period of Earth. Earth finishes itś orbit every 365.25 days (a year) and we make up for those .25 years by having a leap year and adding 1 extra day every 4 years to February.

I can define orbit. Orbit is the path followed around another body in space or ¨revolutionary path.¨

I can explain the shape of the orbit Earth has the shape of an elliptical orbit, and an ellipse is a slightly squashed circle or oval shape.

Lesson 8 Sec 3 -Earth’s Orbital Plane Textbook pg 108-109

I can define a plane. A plane is a flat surface that extends forever.

I can describe our orbital plane. Earth's orbit is on one plane, called the orbital plane. All the planets are on the same one that extends from the sun.

I can define and explain circumpolar stars and how the rotation of Earth is responsible for it. Circumpolar stars are the stars located above and around Earth's North and South poles that you can see all year round. Because the Earth rotates around its axis, these stars stay by the South and North poles and never dip below the horizon.

I can define and explain seasonal stars and how the revolution of Earth is responsible for it. Seasonal stars are the stars located at the horizon and can only be seen during certain seasons when the Earth is at the right place in its orbit. Earth revolves around the sun so its revolution is responsible for seasonal stars because we are constantly changing perspective so we can only see certain stars in certain months.

Lesson 9 Sec 1 The Seasons Textbook pg 114

I can name the 4 seasons on Earth.The 4 seasons on earth are Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Summer and Winter begin with a solstice while Spring and Autumn begin with an equinox.

I can explain what causes the seasons. The 4 seasons are caused by the amount of direct sunlight that hits the Earth while it rotates around its axis. Direct sunlight will have hotter weather therefore being in summer. While indirect sunlight will have colder weather therefore being in winter.

I can describe the tilt of the earth on its axis. The Earth tilts at approximately 23.5 degrees to the North star, Polaris. Earth's tilt on its axis is very important as it creates the seasons when Earth orbits around the sun and varying the amount of sunlight each hemisphere receives, creating summer and winter.

Lesson 9 Sec 2 The Shape and the Sun’s Energy Textbook pg 115-116

I can tell you the shape of earth and how the sun causes uneven heating of the earth. Earth is a sphere which makes sunlight hit Earth differently in different places. For example, the North and South poles of the Earth always receive indirect sunlight making it colder because the sun rays are hitting more at an angle when the Earth orbits/rotates. The equator of the Earth always receives direct sunlight because it is in the middle of the sphere making the sun rays hit less at an angle when the earth orbits and rotates.

I can explain how and when the sun hits the surface directly and indirectly. The sun hits the surface directly in summer as we are faced towards the sun and at noon because the sun is the highest in the sky. Also, the equator receives the most direct sunlight because it is in the middle of Earth's sphere. However, the sun hits the Earth indirectly when the sun is lower in the sky (morning/evening) and in winter because we are tilted away from the sun. The South and North poles receive the most indirect sunlight because they are at the top of earth's sphere causing the sun rays to hit it unevenly due to Earth's tilt.

Lesson 9 Sec 3 Earth’s Tilted Axis and the Seasons Textbook pg 117

I can define a system and give an example of a celestial system. A system is a set of connected parts that form a complex whole. An example of a celestial system would be our solar system as all of the planets form it .

Lesson 9 Sec 4 The Solstices Textbook pg 118

I can define solstices and the time of earth they occur. A solstice is a time of the year when the North or South pole is closest to the sun during noon. It happens 2 times a year (summer & winter). The summer solstice is on June 21 while the winter solstice is on December 21 and opposite for the southern hemisphere.

I can define Tropic and their locations and latitudes on Earth. The Tropics are the areas surrounding the Equator with 2 specific lines of latitude. The Tropic of Cancer (23.5 N) is in the Northern hemisphere while the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 S) is in the Southern hemisphere. These areas receive the most direct sunlight.

I can define when the summer and winter solstice occur in the northern hemisphere. In the Northern hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 21 while the winter solstice occurs on December 21. However, for the Southern hemisphere it is the opposite.

I can describe when and how solstices occur. Solstices occur twice a year, marking the beginning of winter or summer depending on what hemisphere you are on. During a solstice, the sun directly hits one of the tropics. This ultimately happens because of Earth's tilt (23.5 degrees).

Lesson 9 Sec 5 The Equinoxes Textbook pg 119

I can define equinoxes and the time of earth they occur. An equinox is when day and night are about the same length (12 hours) in both the Southern and Northern hemisphere. This happens twice a year in the Vernal equinox (March 20) and the Autumnal equinox (September 22).

I can define the equator and its location and latitude on Earth. The equator is an imaginary line around Earth that is equal distance from the South and North poles, at 0 latitude. This line divides the southern and northern hemispheres and is in the middle of Earth's sphere.

I can define when the vernal and autumnal equinoxes occur in the northern hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal and autumnal equinoxes mark when we are in the middle of a solstice and show the beginning of new seasons such as Spring and Autumn. These equinoxes have equal days and equal nights (12 hours) and occur on March 20-21 for the vernal equinox and September 22-23 for the Autumnal equinox.

I can describe when and how an equinox occurs. An equinox happens in the middle of a solstice, twice a year, changing seasons to spring or autumn and the day and night are about the same length in the Southern and Northern hemispheres.

Lesson 9 Sec 6 The Seasons and the Sun’s path in the Sky Textbook pg 122

I can explain when the sun is highest in the sky and what that causes. The sun is the highest in the sky in summer due to Earth's tilt. Because there is more sunlight, the earth warms up faster at noon.

I can explain when the sun is lowest in the sky and what that causes. The sun is the lowest in the sky in the afternoon or in the morning and especially in winter due to Earth's tilt. This causes less sunlight and less time for the sun to warm up the Earth.

I can explain the pattern of the sun and how it affects the seasons. The pattern of the sun is caused by Earth's 23.5 degree tilt on its axis as it orbits the sun. When a hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it receives direct sun rays and longer daylight (summer). When a hemisphere is tilted away, it receives indirect sun rays and shorter days (winter).

Lesson 9 Sec 7 Calendars of Ancient Civilizations Textbook pg 123

I can explain how ancient civilizations built structures to track the sun and why. Ancient civilizations built structures to track the sun by placing a stick or obelisk in the ground and marked where the shadow fell throughout the day and the year, the shortest shadow at noon marks the summer solstice. They did this so they could create precise and reliable calendars which were important for survival, agriculture, and even religious ceremonies.

References:

Textbook pages 101-123

Google Slides

Homework Lesson 8 and Lesson 9