ScienceFreePrintable

Earth and Space Review

A free science worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Earth and Space Review

Help prepare a science display about Earth and space. Read the information and answer each question. Use complete sentences where asked.

A small planet in a big system

Earth is almost spherical, but it is slightly wider around the middle than from pole to pole. Earth spins on an imaginary line called its axis. One complete spin takes about 24 hours and causes day and night: the side facing the Sun has day, while the side turned away has night. Earth also travels around the Sun. One complete orbit takes about 365¼ days, making a year. Earth’s axis is tilted, and as Earth orbits the Sun this tilt helps cause the seasons. The Moon orbits Earth and takes about 27 days to complete an orbit. We see different amounts of its sunlit half during the month; these changing appearances are called phases. A full Moon is the phase when its visible face looks fully lit. In order from closest to farthest from the Sun, the eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

1.Which description best matches Earth’s shape?

A perfectly flat disc
A slightly flattened sphere
A cube
A perfect sphere with no flattening

2.Explain what causes day and night on Earth.

3.Complete the sentence: Earth’s daily movement is a .

4.Complete the sentence: Earth’s yearly journey around the Sun is an .

5.Which two planets are next to Earth in order from the Sun? Select both.

Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Neptune

6.Earth’s axis is tilted as Earth travels around the Sun. Explain how this tilt helps cause different seasons.

7.Complete the sentence: The Moon takes about days to orbit Earth.

8.Complete the sentence: The changing shapes of the Moon we see are called Moon .

9.Complete the sentence: A fully lit-looking Moon is a Moon.

10.Use the information above to write the eight planets in order, starting with the one closest to the Sun.

Stars and navigation in Aotearoa

For generations, Māori have observed the stars and used knowledge of the sky in navigation, seasonal practices and storytelling. The star cluster Matariki is also known internationally as the Pleiades. Its appearance before dawn in midwinter is associated with the Māori New Year for many iwi. Māori knowledge of the sky is diverse, and traditions and names can vary among iwi.

11.According to the information above, what is Matariki also known as, and when does its appearance before dawn mark the Māori New Year for many iwi?

12.Decide whether each statement is true or false. A. Earth takes about one day to orbit the Sun. B. The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight. C. Māori sky knowledge and traditions are exactly the same for every iwi.

TrueFalse

13.In the drawing box, sketch the Sun, Earth and Moon. Label each one and add arrows to show Earth spinning on its axis and the Moon orbiting Earth.