KS2 Science textbook

Chapter 8: The Earth, Sun and Moon

Strand Earth and space
Level Year 5
Practice 81 questions with step-by-step solutions

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 science, Year 5. Content: E1 describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun in the solar system, E2 describe the movement of the Moon relative to the Earth, E3 describe the Sun, Earth and Moon as approximately spherical bodies, E4 use the idea of the Earth's rotation to explain day and night and the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky.

Open Year 5 chapter

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

Describe how the Earth and the other planets move round the Sun, in the solar system
Describe how the Moon moves round the Earth
Say that the Sun, Earth and Moon are approximately spherical
Explain day and night by the Earth turning once in about 24 hours
Explain why the Sun seems to move across the sky, and why shadows change length through the day

You should already know

Light and shadows, including how shadows change (Year 3 Science, Chapter 8)
Materials, and the water cycle (Year 4 Science)

Where this leads

Gravity, which keeps the planets and the Moon in their orbits (Year 5 Science, Chapter 9)
Working scientifically, planning and reporting (Year 5 Science, Chapter 1)

Lessons in this chapter

Read the whole chapter on one page (good for printing).