IES Astronomy - Investigating Earth Systems: Astronomy

Chapter 1: The Earth's Rotation, Eyes on the Sky, and Feet on the Ground,
Smithsonian Institution
This chapter looks first at the phenomenon of shadows (how they are made), then uses measurements of shadows to track the motion of the sun across the sky. The activities in this chapter challenge the students to quantify their observations and, in so doing, learn useful measuring and organizational techniques. The ability to measure and present data is an essential skill in any scientific investigation.

To learn more about gravitational differences on the Earth and the moon, visit the following web sites:

TBD

To learn more about how the gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth creates tides, visit the following web sites:

Chapter 2: The Earth's Orbit, Eyes on the Sky, and Feet on the Ground,
Smithsonian Institution
This chapter provides activities and information on both causes and effects of the changing of the seasons. We start simply by trying to quantify the observation "it's colder in the winter" and end by measuring the tilt of the Earth itself.

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Last updated: January 26, 2009

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the AGI Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.

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Astronomy Investigation 3: The Earth and the Moon

This investigation will help you to collect evidence that shows:

To learn more about how gravity differs on the Earth and the moon, visit the following web sites:

To learn more about gravitational differences on the Earth and the moon, visit the following web sites:

To learn more about how the gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth creates tides, visit the following web sites:

Astronomy
Investigation 3:
The Earth and the Moon