Our planet
The solar system
The solar system is made of eight planets and the Sun.
Eight planets orbit the Sun.
They are called: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
The moon orbits the Earth. The moon is its satellite.
The sun, the Earth and the satellites are called celestial bodies
The Earth’s moon
The moon takes 28 days to orbit the Earth.
The bright part of the moon is the part that the sun is shining on.
There are six main phases: new moon
crescent moon
first quarter
full moon
third quarter
crescent moon
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun.
The Earth’s rotation and orbit
The earth rotates on its axis, that’s why we have day and night.
It takes 24 hours to complete one rotation.
The earth’s axis is tilted.
When the Earth orbits the Sun one hemisphere receives more light and heat than the other.
That’s why we have different seasons
Our planet
We use maps and globes to show the Earth.
The earth’s axis goes through the South Pole to the North Pole.
The Equator is a line that goes horizontally around the Earth.
Lines of latitude go horizontally around the Earth. These lines measure distance from the Equator.
Lines of longitude go vertically around the Earth. These lines measure how far east and west are.
The Earth’s year
Spring begins in March; days are longer
Temperature increases.
Plants start to grow flowers and fruit.
Many animals reproduce in spring.
Summer begins in June. The days are longer.
The temperature is high and there is very little precipitation.
Fruit is ready to eat.
Autumn begins in September. Days and nights are about the same length.
Temperature decreases, there is lots of precipitation.
Deciduous trees start to lose their leaves.
Many animals collect food for the winter.
Winter begins in December. The days are shorter than the nights.
The temperature is low and there is some precipitation, even snow
Some animals hibernate.
Climate on Earth
Climate is the usual weather in a place over a long period of time. Climates can be hot. Cold, humid or dry.
Climate is influenced by latitude. The places near the Equator have higher temperatures and more precipitations.
Different plants and animals live in different climates.
Atlantic climate:
Temperature: mild in summer and cool in winter.
Precipitations: a lot
Continental climate:
Temperature: very high in summer and very low in winter.
Precipitations: very little.
Sub tropical climate: (Canary Islands)
Temperature: high in summer and it changes very little all the year.
Precipitations: very little.
Mountain climate:
Temperature: cool in summer and very low in winter.
Precipitations: A lot during all the year and in winter it snows.
Mediterranean climate:
Temperature: high in summer and mild during other seasons.
Precipitations: a lot in autumn, very little the rest of the year.
