Virginia SOL 6.3 · Sun, Earth, and Moon · Part 1

Earth, Day, Night, and Seasons (Part 1)

Use what you know about Earth, the moon, and the sun to complete the passage below.

Directions: Drag each word into a blank, or tap a word and then tap a blank. Tap a placed word to send it back to the bank. When every blank is filled, check your answers to see which are right and which are wrong. To try again, all words return to the bank, so remember what you learned! Keep going until all 6 are correct.

The passage

Earth is a rocky planet covered with large oceans of liquid water. Its protective , made mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, works with Earth's magnetic field to shield the surface from harmful solar radiation. These special properties make it possible for life to exist here.

Earth spins on its once every 24 hours. This spinning motion, called , causes day and night: the side of Earth facing the sun has daylight, while the side facing away has night. Earth also travels all the way around the sun about once every 365 days. This orbiting motion, called , works together with Earth's to cause the seasons. The seasons are not caused by Earth's changing from the sun. In fact, Earth is slightly closer to the sun during winter in Virginia!

Word bank

All words are placed. Check your answers below.
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Passage complete!

You connected the big ideas of Earth's motions: what makes Earth able to support life, how its rotation causes day and night, and how its revolution and tilt cause the seasons. Your score has been recorded.