Sun, Earth, Moon

Lyrics

Verse I
We've just begun so far, with the strum of guitar
So let me set it off and tell you that the sun is a star
In the center of the Solar System filling the void
Along with comets and the planets and the asteroids
And meteoroids, and dust, but remember this fact
And if you do you'll be heading to the head of the class

In fact, the sun makes up almost all of the weight
Of our solar system: it's 99.8% of it all
That means it's one heck of a ball
The energy of the sun is supporting us all
Important to call it by its right name, you know what it is
Energy from sunlight through photosynthesis
It benefits the flowers to get the sun's power

The Earth rotates once over 24 hours
Now it's better to remember it's the length of a day so it
Doesn't matter if it's December or May
It's still the same. So don't be fooled in school like a dunce
ʻCause one year it takes earth to spin around the sun once
12 months to orbit, one way around
It takes 365 days they found

So now you're primed, these numbers you'll remember in rhyme
The earth's tilted on its side, 23.5 degrees
Like a G, you wanna lean in the ride
And it's for this very reason we get seasons and tides

Chorus
We have the sun, the earth, and the moon
Spinning around the other, with gravity too
The moon around the earth, the earth around the sun
Giving us the reason for seasons for everyone

Verse II
Back so soon, I'm bringing a few facts about the moon
How it provides the ocean tides and stabilizes the room
But actually dude, though true, what is actually felt:
The moon stabilizes the whole axial tilt

So fasten your belt, ʻcause if you come along for the ride
You could fall or rise, like the level of tide
Forever you'll find that the moon and the earth are related,
Fatal like attraction as the tides created

The size is spacious, our moon's sort of large with girth
But its diameter is only about a quarter of earth's
For what that it's worth, it's earth's only satellite known
Largest moon in the solar system spinning around its globe

And it's been shown the moon affected our sphere
And may have helped develop life through our temperature here
So now that we're clear about the earth, the moon, and the sun
Y'all repeat the hook, ʻcause this tune is done

Chorus
We have the sun, the earth, and the moon
Spinning around the other, with gravity too
The moon around the earth, the earth around the sun
Giving us the reason for seasons for everyone

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Description

"Sun, Earth, Moon" teaches about the earth and planets. With key concepts such as the earth’s tilt, tides, and earth’s rotation and orbit around the sun, this solar system song will quickly teach students about space. The teaching materials at the bottom of the page, including solar system diagrams, lesson plans, worksheets, and activities help scientists, teachers, and homeschool parents generate teaching ideas for the song topics. Students will become more effective at describing the relationship between the sun, earth, and moon.

This science song is suitable for teaching the solar system to elementary school students (3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade), middle school, high school, and home school.

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Related Reading and Activities

Reading

Internet4Classrooms
Earth Science Resources This page provides an incredible wealth of resources for all life and earth sciences. The site overall provides links to other sites for all major subject areas for grades K-12.
Grades K-12

Kid’s Astronomy
Interactive Solar System
This site provides information about the solar system, including earth and its moon, and comets and asteroids. Easy to navigate.
Grades 2-5

NASA
Sun for Kids
This site gives an overview of the sun, plus ten interesting pieces of sun trivia.
Grades 4-12

Soho
Sun as a Star
Also a great site, interesting facts about our sun are offered as well as excellent pictures.
Grades 4-12

Nine Planets
Our Moon
This website provides fascinating trivia about earth’s moon. Good introduction to study of the moon.
Grades 4-9

Lesson Plans & Activities

Amazing Space
Sun and Planets
This site has a Solar System Trading Cards game that identifies sun, planets, comets and asteroids. Excellent pictures of planets as well. Student should be familiar with planets before attempting this game.
Grades 3-6

NASA
Earth from Space
This collection of official NASA photos features the shots taken by astronauts from outer space. Cool site to explore and try to find your location.
Grades 3-12

Sun-Earth Day
This website contains several links to activities and lesson plans about the relationship between the sun and the earth. This site offers many activities and projects in Spanish as well as English for multiple grade levels. Excellent resource.
Grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12

Windows to the Universe
Our Moon
An excellent site with good information and links to additional information about the moon, the site offers Spanish and English in beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Links at the bottom of the page take you to games, lessons and projects.
Grades K-5, 6-8, 9-12

Science NetLinks
Lunar Explorer
This activity helps students plan a trip to the moon.
Grades 6-12

Stanford Solar Center
Lesson Plans
This site offers a wide variety of classroom activities about the sun.
Grades 4-12

Universe Today
Moon for Kids
This site has an excellent photo/picture of the phases of the moon that is easy to understand. Also it explains how to have students create “Moon Journals.”
Grades 4-9

Media

Passport to Knowledge (P2K)
TakeAim at Climate Change
This clever music video produced by RRR and Polar Palooza for P2K addresses issues concerning global warming with catchy informative lyrics and National Geographic film footage of Antarctica. Site also has printed lyrics, downloads and good information. Unique and a great way to start any study of earth science. Suitable for all grades.
Grades 1-12

KidsKnowIt Network
Why Does the Sun Shine (song)
This simple song pronounces the importance of the sun.
Grades K-3

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State Standards

State standards listed here are representative of school standards across the United States.

California

3rd Grade
4d - Know that Earth is one of several planets that orbit Sun and that Moon orbits Earth.
5th Grade
5b - Know solar system includes planet Earth,Moon,Sun, eight other planets and their satellites, and smaller objects, such as asteroids and comets.

Florida

4th Grade
SC.4.E.5.3 - Recognize that Earth revolves around the Sun in a year and rotates on its axis in a 24-hour day.
SC.4.E.5.4 - Relate that rotation of Earth (day and night) and apparent movements of Sun, Moon, and stars are connected.
5th Grade
SC.5.E.5.1 - Recognize that galaxy consists of gas, dust, and stars, including objects orbiting stars. Identify our home galaxy as Milky Way.

Illinois

3rd Grade
E.1b - Identify and describe patterns of weather and seasonal change.
F.1a - Identify and describe characteristics of the sun, Earth and moon as familiar objects in the solar system.
F.1b Identify daily, seasonal and annual patterns related to the Earth’s rotation and revolution.
4th–6th Grade
F.2a - Identify and explain natural cycles and patterns in the solar system (e.g., order of the planets; moon phases; seasons as related to Earth’s tilt, one’s latitude, and where Earth is in its yearly orbit around the sun).
F.2b - Explain the apparent motion of the sun and stars.
C.2b - Describe and explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases.
7th – 8th Grades
F.3b - Describe the organization and physical characteristics of the solar system (e.g., sun, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets).

Massachusetts

5th Grade
SC.5.E.5.3 - Distinguish among following objects of Solar System -- Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets -- identify Earth's position in it.

New York

K-4th Grade
1a - Earth moves in path around Sun (revolution), results in one Earth year
4.2a - The Sun’s energy warms the air and water.
3.1b - Leaves help plants utilize sunlight to make food for the plant.
5th -8th Grades
1.1a - Earth's Sun is average-sized star. Sun more than a million times greater in volume than Earth.
1.1c - The Sun and the planets that revolve around it are major bodies in solar system. Other members include comets, moons, and asteroids. Earth's orbit is nearly circular.
1.1d - Gravity is force that keeps planets in orbit around Sun and Moon in orbit around Earth.
1.1e - Most objects in solar system have regular and predictable motion. Motions explain such phenomena as day, year, phases of Moon, eclipses, tides, meteor showers, and comets.
1.1h - Apparent motions of Sun, Moon, planets, and stars across sky can be explained by Earth's rotation and revolution. Earth's rotation causes length of one day to be approximately 24 hours. This rotation also causes Sun and Moon to appear to rise along eastern horizon and set along western horizon. Earth's revolution around Sun defines length of year as 365 1/4 days.
1.1i - Tilt of Earth's axis of rotation and revolution of Earth around Sun cause seasons. Length of daylight varies depending on latitude and season.

Texas

3rd–4th Grades
3b,11d - Describe the characteristics of the Sun.
4a,2 - Describe role of the Sun as our major source of energy.
7th Grade
b,8b - Identify that radiant energy from Sun is transferred into chemical energy through process of photosynthesis.

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