Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 4

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Describe the Earth's shape and give evidence.
• Name the four main directions: North, South, East, and West.
• Explain how the Earth's rotation causes day and night.
• Find South Africa on a map or globe.

Lesson summary

This week, we begin our exciting journey into the universe by exploring Planet Earth and its place in space! Understanding our planet is crucial because it's our home. It's where we live, breathe, and get all the things we need to survive. Learning about Earth helps us appreciate its resources and understand how to protect them, ensuring a healthy future for everyone in South Africa. We'll also start to understand how Earth fits within the larger solar system. This knowledge helps us answer big questions about our existence and inspires us to explore the unknown.

Lesson notes

2. 1. The Shape of the Earth For a long time, people thought the Earth was flat.

However, we now know that the Earth is a sphere, like a giant ball. It's not perfectly round, but more like a slightly squashed ball, also known as a geoid.

Evidence for a Spherical Earth: Ships disappearing hull first: When a ship sails away from the shore, it doesn't just get smaller and smaller until it disappears. Instead, the hull (the bottom part) disappears first, followed by the mast (the tall part). This is because the Earth is curved, and the hull dips below the horizon before the mast does. Imagine an ant walking over a tennis ball - eventually, you'll only see the head of the ant as it walks over the curve.

Different constellations: If you travel far enough north or south, you will see different stars in the night sky. This wouldn't happen if the Earth was flat, because you would always be able to see the same stars. Constellations like the Southern Cross are only visible in the Southern Hemisphere.

Pictures from space: Astronauts have taken countless photographs and videos of Earth from space. These images clearly show that the Earth is a sphere.

Lunar eclipses: During a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. The shadow is always round, which is further evidence that the Earth is spherical. Think of holding a ball in front of a lightbulb. The shadow will always be round no matter which way you turn the ball. 2.

2. Directions: North, South, East, and West The four main directions are North, South, East, and West. These directions are used for navigation and to describe the location of objects. You can use a compass to find these directions. A compass is a tool that has a magnetic needle that always points towards the north.

Mnemonic Device: Never Eat Soggy Worms! (North, East, South, West) In South Africa, we can use the position of the Sun to help us find directions. The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. At midday, when the Sun is at its highest point, it is generally towards the North.

Example: If you are standing outside at midday in Johannesburg, facing the sun, you are roughly facing North. South is behind you, East is to your right, and West is to your left. 2.

3. The Earth's Rotation and Day/Night The Earth is constantly spinning around, like a top. This spinning is called rotation. The Earth rotates on its axis, which is an imaginary line that runs through the North and South Poles. It takes the Earth about 24 hours to complete one rotation. This rotation is what causes day and night. As the Earth rotates, different parts of the Earth face the Sun. The part of the Earth that is facing the Sun experiences day, while the part of the Earth that is facing away from the Sun experiences night. Imagine shining a torch on a ball. The part of the ball that the torch is shining on is in daylight, and the part that is not being shone on is in darkness. As you turn the ball, different parts move into the light and then into the darkness. 2.

4. Locating South Africa on a Map or Globe A map is a flat representation of the Earth's surface, while a globe is a three-dimensional, spherical model of the Earth. Both maps and globes can be used to find countries, cities, and other geographical features. South Africa is located on the continent of Africa, in the Southern Hemisphere. It is at the very southern tip of Africa. You can use the lines of latitude and longitude to find South Africa on a map or globe. Latitude lines run horizontally (east to west) and measure distance north or south of the Equator. Longitude lines run vertically (north to south) and measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Explain, in your own words, why we have day and night.

Solution: Day and night happen because the Earth is constantly spinning (rotating) on its axis. As the Earth spins, different parts of it face the Sun. The part facing the Sun has daylight, and the part facing away from the Sun experiences night. When South Africa is facing the Sun, it's daytime here. When South Africa turns away from the Sun, it's nighttime.

Question 2: If you are using a compass and the needle is pointing North, in which direction is East?

Solution: East is to the right of North. Imagine the points of a compass – North is at the top, South at the bottom, West to the left, and East to the right.

Question 3: Name one piece of evidence that proves the Earth is round and explain it.

Solution: One piece of evidence is ships disappearing hull first over the horizon. As a ship sails away, the curvature of the Earth causes the bottom part of the ship (the hull) to disappear before the top part (the mast). This wouldn't happen if the Earth was flat. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Draw a simple diagram to show how the Earth's rotation causes day and night. Label the Sun, Earth, and the day and night sides.