Earth's Sun and Moon

Grade 1 · Science · Study Guide

Learn about the sun and moon and their roles in our sky.

The sun is a star. It is the closest star to Earth. The sun is a giant ball of hot gas that gives off light and heat. Without the sun, Earth would be dark and cold and nothing could live here.

Earth moves around the sun. This trip takes one year, or about 365 days. Earth also spins like a top. One full spin takes 24 hours, which is one day. When your side of Earth faces the sun, it is daytime. When your side faces away from the sun, it is nighttime.

The moon is Earth's closest neighbor in space. The moon is much smaller than the sun, but it looks big because it is much closer to us. The moon does not make its own light. The light we see from the moon is sunlight bouncing off the moon's surface.

The moon moves around Earth. It takes about 29 days for the moon to go all the way around Earth. As the moon travels, we see different amounts of its lit side. These are called the phases of the moon.

The moon phases go from a new moon (dark) to a crescent, to a half moon, to a full moon (all bright), and back again. This cycle repeats every month.

Key terms

star
A giant ball of hot gas that produces light and heat; the sun is a star
orbit
The path one object takes as it travels around another
rotation
When Earth spins on its axis, causing day and night
moon phase
The shape of the lit part of the moon that we can see from Earth
full moon
When we can see the entire lit side of the moon
new moon
When the moon is not visible because its dark side faces Earth

Flashcards

Sun
The star at the center of our solar system; provides light and heat
Moon
Earth's natural satellite that orbits Earth
Star
A giant ball of hot gas that produces light and heat
Orbit
The path an object travels around another object in space
Rotation
Earth spinning on its axis; causes day and night
Moon phase
The changing shape of the visible lit part of the moon
Full moon
When the entire lit side of the moon faces Earth
New moon
When the moon's dark side faces Earth and it is not visible

Questions

  1. What is the sun?

    1. A planet
    2. A moon
    3. A star
    4. A comet
    Show answer

    Answer: A star

    The sun is a star — a giant ball of hot gas that produces light and heat.

  2. The moon makes its own light.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    The moon does not produce its own light. We see sunlight reflected off the moon's surface.

  3. One full spin of Earth takes _______ hours.

    Show answer

    Answer: 24

    Earth completes one full rotation (spin) every 24 hours, which is one day.

  4. How long does it take Earth to go around the sun?

    1. One day
    2. One week
    3. One month
    4. One year
    Show answer

    Answer: One year

    Earth takes 365 days (one year) to travel all the way around the sun.

  5. The moon moves around Earth.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    The moon orbits (travels around) Earth about once every 29 days.

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