Earth on the Move
This word means Earth spinning on its axis.
Rotation
The side of Earth facing the Sun experiences this.
Day
Earth’s axis is tilted by approximately this many degrees.
23.5°
When the Sun is low in the sky, shadows are this: long or short?
Long
The Noongar seasonal calendar has this many seasons.
Six
Earth takes approximately this long to complete one rotation.
24 hours
This boundary separates the daylight side of Earth from the night side.
The terminator line
When Australia experiences summer, Canada experiences this season.
Winter
Shadows are generally shortest around this time of day.
Solar midday, when the Sun is highest
This Noongar season is the coldest and wettest.
Makuru
This word describes Earth travelling around the Sun.
Revolution
Earth rotates in this direction: east to west or west to east?
West to east
This imaginary line divides Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The equator
A shadow falls on this side of an object relative to the Sun.
The side opposite the Sun
This Noongar season is the hottest part of the year, with little rain.
Bunuru
This imaginary line passes through the North and South Poles.
Earth's Axis
Viewed from above the North Pole, does Earth rotate clockwise or anticlockwise?
Anticlockwise
Give two reasons a hemisphere is warmer when tilted towards the Sun.
It receives more direct sunlight and has longer daylight hours.
Explain why a pole’s shadow changes length during the day.
Earth’s rotation changes the Sun’s apparent height in the sky. A low Sun produces a long shadow; a high Sun produces a short shadow.
Name two other Noongar seasons besides Makuru and Bunuru.
Any two: Birak, Djeran, Djilba or Kambarang
Explain the difference between rotation and revolution, including how long each takes.
Rotation is spinning on an axis and takes about 24 hours. Revolution is orbiting the Sun and takes about 365 days.
Explain why a place on Earth experiences both day and night.
Earth rotates, carrying the place towards and then away from the Sun. It has day when facing the Sun and night when facing away.
A student says, “Summer happens because Earth is closer to the Sun.” Correct their explanation.
Seasons occur because Earth’s axis is tilted as it orbits the Sun. A hemisphere has summer when tilted towards the Sun, receiving more direct sunlight and longer daylight hours.
Compare a pole’s shadow around midday in Australian summer and winter. Explain the difference.
It is generally shorter in summer because the Sun is higher in the sky, and longer in winter because the Sun is lower.
Choose two Noongar seasons and describe one weather, plant or animal feature of each.
Examples: Birak—warm and drying; Bunuru—hot and dry; Djeran—cool nights and dew; Makuru—cold and wet; Djilba—mixed weather and emerging wildflowers; Kambarang—warmer weather and abundant flowers.