Opener

1. Opener • If you could pick anywhere in the world to vacation, where would it be? • Explain your answer.

2. Space, the Earth, and Our World SSWG1 • The student will explain the physical aspects of geography. • Describe the concept of place by explaining how physical characteristics such as landforms, bodies of water, climate, soils, natural vegetation, and animal life are used to describe a place. SSWG2 • The student will explain the cultural aspects of geography. • Analyze how physical factors such as mountains, climate, and bodies of water interact with the people of a region to produce a distinctive culture.

3. Earth’s Rotation, Revolution & Tilt • Most of the Earth’s energy comes from the Sun • 3 factors control the amount of solar energy that falls on different parts of the Earth • Rotation • Revolution • Tilt

4. Rotation • Definition: one complete spin of the Earth on its axis is one rotation, which usually takes 24 hours • Rotates West to East direction • Sun rises in the east and sets in the west • Creates a Day and Night

5. Revolution • Earth revolves around the Sun • One elliptical orbit every 365 ¼ days OR one Earth year • What accounts for the ¼ day gained each year? • Add extra day --- February 29 --- Leap Year

7. Tilt • Earth’s axis is tilted in relation to the Sun • Tilted 23 ½ degrees • Tilt of the Earth on its axis affects the amount of solar energy that different places receive during the year

8. Sunlight and Seasons • Different parts of the earth receive different amounts of sunlight • Equator- receives lots of sunlight all year • Warm all year round • Also called warm-low latitude • Area known as the tropics • Examples: Caribbean, Brazil, Peru, Ethiopia, Sudan, India, Philippines, Malaysia

9. Sunlight and Seasons • North & South Pole- receive very little sun • Cold most of the year/high latitude areas • Area known as the polar regions • Greenland, North pole, Antarctica • Middle Latitudes- amount of sunlight varies throughout the year • May be warm or cool depending on time of year • This is the area between the tropics and the polar region • Examples: United States, United Kingdom, China

10. The Seasons • Solstice • Time that the Earth’s poles point at their greatest angle toward or away from the sun • Occur around December 21 and June 21 • In the Northern Hemisphere • the December solstice is the shortest day of the year & the 1st day of winter • In the Southern Hemisphere • the December solstice is the longest day of the year & the 1st day of summer

12. The Seasons continued • Equinox • Occurs twice a year when Earth’s poles are not pointed toward or away from the sun • Occur around March 21 & around September 21 • Signal the beginning of Fall and Spring

13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FooHD0atuc

14. The Earth System • Definition: the interaction of elements on and around our planet • Can be divided into 4 physical systems: • Atmosphere • Lithosphere • Hydrosphere • Biosphere

16. Atmosphere • Definition: layer of gases that surrounds the Earth • Provides the air you breathe • Protects Earth from harmful radiation

17. Lithosphere • Definition: surface of the planet that forms the continents and the ocean floor • It forms Earth’s continents, islands and ocean floors

18. Hydrosphere • Definition: all the water of the planet • Includes the oceans, rivers in the atmosphere • Covers about 70% of Earth’s surface

19. Biosphere • Definition: the part of Earth in which all of the planet’s plant and animal life exists