Grade 6 (age 11-12)

Earth's Rotation & Revolution

The Earth looks still, but it always turns in two ways. Spinning once a day is rotation, turning the side toward the Sun into day and the other into night. Circling the Sun once a year is revolution, and its tilted axis makes the seasons. Move the hour and month to see how day, night, and seasons form.

Rotation — Why Day & Night

Hour12h

🌍 What is Rotation?

①Earth spinning on itself is called rotation

②One full turn per day (~24 hours)

③Side facing Sun → day

④Opposite side → night

⑤Rotation makes day and night repeat

Revolution — Why Seasons

Month6

🔄 What is Revolution?

①Earth orbiting the Sun is called revolution

②One full orbit per year (~365 days)

③Earth tilt (23.5°) causes seasons

④Summer: sun high → warm

⑤Winter: sun low → cold

Summary

Rotation Period

1 rotation ≈ 24 hours (1 day)

Why day and night occur

Revolution Period

1 revolution ≈ 365 days (1 year)

Why seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) change

🎯 Key Points

①Rotation: Earth spins → day & night

②Revolution: Earth orbits Sun → seasons

③Rotation ≈ 24 hours, revolution ≈ 365 days

④Earth tilt (23.5°) creates seasons

⑤Summer: sun high; Winter: sun low

Examples and Unit Test

Example 1

What is it called when Earth spins once a day on its own, and what does this make repeat?

Earth spinning on its own is called rotation.

The side facing the Sun has day and the opposite side has night, so day and night repeat.

▸ Rotation / day and night

The rotation period is about a day (24 hours). Rotation makes day and night.

Example 2

What are Earth's rotation period and revolution period, and what does revolution cause?

Rotation (spinning) takes about 24 hours; revolution (orbiting the Sun) takes about 365 days.

Because Earth orbits while tilted, the seasons change.

▸ Rotation ~24 hours (a day), revolution ~365 days (a year) / seasonal change

Rotation makes the day (day and night); revolution makes the year (seasons).

Unit-test style

Which statement about Earth's rotation and revolution is correct?

①Rotation causes the seasons to change

②Earth's rotation period is about a day (24 hours)

③Revolution is Earth spinning on its own

④The side facing the Sun is in night

⑤Earth's revolution period is about a day

▸ ② Earth's rotation period is about a day (24 hours)

Earth rotates once in about 24 hours, which makes day and night.

Seasons come from revolution and axial tilt (①), revolution is orbiting the Sun (③), the side facing the Sun is in day (④), and the revolution period is about a year (⑤).

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