Global Thinkers: Social Science 6. Primary (sample)

THE UNIVERSE AND THE EARTH

• The Universe: satellites, comets and asteroids

• Planetary systems: our Solar System

• The Earth and its movements

• The Earth’s systems and the Moon

• The atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena

• Weather and climate

• Earth’s climate zones

• The climates of Spain

TERM REVIEW

• Location and boundaries of Europe

• Countries in Europe and their capital cities

• Inland Europe

• The European coastline

• Hydrography in Europe

• European climate

• Spain’s regional organisation

• Municipal and autonomous governments

• The Spanish government

• Spain and the European Union

• The history of the European Union

• EU institutions and citizens

• The eurozone

TERM REVIEW

• From the War of Independence to the reign of Isabel II

• The six-year democratic period and the Restoration

• Transformations in the 19th century

• Art and culture in the 19th century

• The reign of Alfonso XIII and the Second Republic

• The Civil War (1936–1939)

• Franco’s dictatorship

• Democracy and constitutional Spain

• The Constitution of 1978

• Art and culture in the 20th and 21st centuries

TERM REVIEW

THE WORLD AND... YOU! • LEARNING EXPERIENCE SPECIFIC COMPETENCES: EVALUATION CRITERIA

In The World and... you!, students reflect on different types of light pollution and how to raise awareness about this problem.

In The World and... you!, students explore the greenhouse effect, its consequences and ways to raise awareness about this problem.

In The World and... you!, students explore different types of relief and how economic activities relate to a place’s geography.

In The World and... you!, students learn about the importance of forests in Spain and Europe, as well as how the EU is working to protect biodiversity.

In The World and... you!, students explore gender equality in the 19th century and the feminist movement in Spain.

In The World and... you!, students explore the relationship between art, public memorials, history and historical memory.

THE UNIVERSE AND THE EARTH

My objectives are:

• To learn about the Universe and its elements.

• To learn about planetary systems and our Solar System.

• To learn about the Earth, its movements and the Moon.

• To learn about the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena.

Watch and learn!

What does the Universe contain?

Why have humans explored outer space? Who is Pedro Duque? Where will be the next stop for astronauts in the future?

Look at all those stars! They are beautiful!

1 Read and listen to an article from a scientific magazine. Then answer the questions in your notebook.

Humans and space

Humans find the Universe fascinating.

The Ancient Greeks named planets and constellations after their gods. For the Egyptians, the symbol of their pharaoh’s power was the Sun.

Thanks to the invention of the telescope, we have discovered new planets. We have also been able to explain certain phenomena, such as comets and shooting stars. This changed the ideas many people had about the Solar System.

1) Who named celestial bodies after their gods?

The first artificial satellite went into space in the 20th century. It was called Sputnik and started orbiting the Earth. Some years later, the first living being went into space. It was a dog named Laika. The first human in space was Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and the first woman was Valentina Tereshkova. It was the Americans, however, on Apollo 11 who first walked on the Moon. As the astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped on the Moon, he said ‘This is a small step for a man but a great leap for mankind’.

a) The Ancient Greeks b) The Egyptians c) The Europeans

2) What invention helped scientists learn more about the Solar System?

a) The light bulb b) The telescope c) The spaceship

3) What was the first living being to travel to space?

a) A dog b) A human c) A monkey

4) Who was the first person on the Moon?

a) Yuri Gagarin b) Valentina Tereshkova c) Neil Armstrong

2 Write a sentence explaining who or what the following names refer to: Laika, Valentina Tereshkova, Apolo 11.

THE UNIVERSE: SATELLITES, COMETS AND ASTEROIDS

Refresh Can you name the planets in our Solar System? What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

2 The Universe

The Universe is everything that exists in time and space. It contains energy and matter. It also includes the planets, stars and galaxies. The Universe is so large that scientists have not yet found where it ends. Scientists believe that the Universe appeared with an explosion and that it is still expanding. This is called the Big Bang Theory. It explains why celestial bodies are in constant movement.

Because the universe is so big, distances cannot be measured in kilometres. The unit we use to measure distances in space is the light year. This is the number of kilometres that light can travel in one year. Light travels at almost 300 000 kilometres per second. Did you know that some of the stars we can see do not exist anymore? They are just so far away that their light is still reaching us.

1 Are these sentences about the Universe true or false? Copy them in your notebook and correct the false sentences.

a) The Universe is very big.

b) The Universe started with an explosion.

c) The Universe continues forever.

d) We measure the distance between planets in kilometres.

e) Light travels at almost 300 000 kilometres per second.

The Big Bang Theory

3 Celestial bodies

Celestial bodies are the objects that exist in the Universe. Matter takes different forms, so there are many types of celestial bodies: nebulae, stars, galaxies, comets, asteroids, meteorites, satellites, planets and dwarf planets.

• A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust located between stars. Nebulae contain different types of gases that form new stars.

• Stars are spheres of gas (mostly hydrogen and helium) that emit light and energy. The Sun is a star.

• Groups of millions of stars and nebulae form a galaxy. Our Solar System, together with other stars and systems, is in the Milky Way.

1 Write the name of each type of celestial body in your notebook.

2 Work in groups. Do some research and agree on the definitions of the following words. Then, copy and complete the table in your notebook.

planets satellites comets asteroids meteorites dwarf planets

TERM DEFINITION

? Celestial bodies that orbit around bigger objects, like planets.

?

Large spherical bodies that can be made of rock or gas. They orbit around stars and form planetary systems such as the Solar System.

? Objects that leave their orbit and burn when they enter the atmosphere.

? Balls of ice and dust that orbit the Sun. Near the Sun they have a tail.

? They orbit stars. Pluto is a very small one.

? Small objects made of rock that orbit the Sun.

A nebula

A galaxy

A star

PLANETARY SYSTEMS: OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

Refresh What is the name of the star in our planetary system?

4 The Solar System

The Earth, our planet, is part of the planetary system called the Solar System. It consists of a central star and all the celestial bodies that orbit around it. This planetary system belongs to galaxy called the Milky Way.

In our Solar System there are many different celestial bodies. The central star is called the Sun, which is big sphere of gas that emits light and heat and allows life on Earth. All the planets in the Solar System orbit around the Sun. In the past, people used to think that the Earth was the centre of the Solar System.

Planets in the Solar System have got different compositions. Some are made of rock, like the Earth and Mars and others are made of gas, like Jupiter or Saturn.

Some planets have got satellites. The Earth has got only one satellite: the Moon. Jupiter and Saturn have got more than 60 different moons. Other planets, like Mercury, haven’t got any satellites. This is because it is too close to the Sun and as a result of its gravity.

There are satellites that are so big that they are similar in size to planets. Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons, is bigger than Mercury.

1 Complete and complete the sentence in your notebook. The Earth belongs to the (a)…, which is part of the (b)… .

2 Work in pairs. Do you remember the name of the eight planets that orbit around the Sun in our Solar System? Draw a diagram and draw them in their correct position.

The planets orbit around the Sun.

The Moon is the Earth’s satellite.

3 There is a dwarf planet that orbits around the Sun and is at the far end of the Solar System. It used to be considered a planet. Write its name.

4 Look at the diagram. One year is the time each planet takes to orbit around the Sun. Decide which planet has got the shortest year and which planet has got the longest year.

5 Which of these sentences is false?

a) Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons, is bigger than Mercury.

b) Gravity is the force that controls the Solar System.

c) The conditions and characteristics of Neptune make it possible to find life there.

d) People used to think the Sun orbited around the Earth.

Language Bank

Used

to

In the past, people used to think that the Earth...

6 Copy the following celestial bodies in your notebook. Next to each one, write the correct type of celestial body.

The paths of the planets are called orbits and are elliptical in shape Halley

The Sun the Moon Pluto Venus Halley Mars Ganymede

THE EARTH AND ITS MOVEMENTS

Refresh At what time does the Sun rise? Does it always rise at the same time?

5 The Earth and its movements

The Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is a rocky planet with a solid surface.

It is special planet because 70% of its surface is covered in liquid water. What’s more, the Earth’s atmosphere keeps the planet at the correct temperature to support life.

Apart from orbiting around the Sun, the Earth also rotates around an imaginary axis.

The Earth rotates counterclockwise around an axis that is tilted 23º with respect to the Sun. It takes 24 hours to complete one turn. This movement is called rotation.

If we draw a vertical line to mark the axis, the point where it meets the surface of the Earth in the north is called the North Pole and in the south it is called the South Pole.

The Equator is an imaginary horizontal line at an equal distance from the poles. It divides the Earth into two halves called the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

1

In which hemisphere do you live? Write the answer in your notebook.

2 Draw a diagram of the Earth in your notebook and label it with the following terms.

a) North Pole

b) South Pole.

c) Northern Hemisphere

d) Equator

e) Southern Hemisphere

Axis

Equator

North Pole axis

South Pole

Northrem hemisphere

Southerm hemisphere

North Pole

South Pole

Southern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

6 The seasons, equinoxes and solstices

The Earth also moves around the Sun. This movement is called revolution. Because the Earth is tilted and its orbit is elliptical, the distance from the Sun is not always the same. For that reason, the days are Northern Hemisphere. It is also hotter in summer and Southern Hemisphere, the opposite happens.

3

The equinoxes and solstices

In the middle of the Earth’s orbit, the Sun’s rays fall directly on the Equator. This moment is called the equinox. There are two equinoxes: one that marks the beginning of spring and the other one marks the beginning of autumn. On these dates, day and night both last for 12 hours. The moments when the Earth is at its furthest point from the Sun are called the solstice. The summer solstice happens on the 21st of June and it is the longest day of the year. The winter solstice is on the 21st of December and it is the shortest day of the year.

Look at the diagrams and answer the questions.

a) When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?

b) Which area of the planet has got constant sunlight during the year?

c) Which areas of the planet have got constant darkness during the winter?

Think 4 Think and answer: On the 4th of November, are days getting longer or shorter in the Southern Hemisphere?

a) North Pole b) Shorter

5 Write the name of these dates and say which season starts then.

a) 20th March c) 21st December

b) 23rd September d) 21st June

Language Bank

Present simple for timetables Spring begins on the…

Equinox

Equinox

Solstice

Solstice

The Sun

Summer

Winter

THE EARTH’S SYSTEMS AND THE MOON

Refresh When you leave the city, what do you see on the ground around you? What do you breathe?

8 The Earth’s systems

The Earth is made up of four different systems that work together to make the planet what it is. These systems are also called spheres. They contain all the things on our planet.

crust Earth mantle core

9 The Earth’s layers

The crust is the thinnest layer. It is solid. Its thickness varies from 7 to 70 km. It can be continental or oceanic (below the ocean). The mantle is made up of solid and melted rock. Its temperature is between 1 400 and 3 000 ºC. The outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel. It creates a protective magnetic field around the Earth. The inner core is extremely hot: about 6 000 ºC. It is made of iron and nickel, but it is solid because of the pressure.

1

Many scientific words have a Greek or Latin origin. Look for the meaning of these prefixes. Do you know any other words that contain them?

a)

b)

2 Make a mind map in your notebook to show the spheres and layers of the Earth.

ocean

3

ocean

glacier

Oxygen

g) Carrots

12700km

Biosphere

10 The Moon

The name of the satellite that orbits around the Earth is the Moon.

It is a rock that measures approximately one quarter of Earth’s size. It does not produce light, but its surface reflects the light from the Sun.

The Moon is the only satellite we can see without a telescope.

The Moon rotates on its axis at the same speed that it orbits around the Earth. For this reason, there is always one side of the Moon that we cannot see.

Depending on the Moon’s position in its orbit, it reflects sunlight differently, so we see a different shape. We call this the phases of the Moon.

The phases of the Moon

4 Work in pairs and find out the correct answer. Why are there craters on the surface of the Moon?

a) Since the Moon has got gravity it attracts meteorites. However, the Moon has not got an atmosphere to protect it, so they crash onto its surface and make craters.

b) Because the gravity of the Moon makes the surface sink towards its core.

5 11 Listen and complete the sentences about the Moon in your notebook.

a) It has…

b) It causes…

c) Its surface…

d) It doesn’t…

e) It takes…

Moon

New Moon

Waning Crescent

Waning Crescent

Waning Gibbous

Waning Gibbous

THE ATMOSPHERE AND ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA

Refresh Which gases do we need to live?

12 The atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It is essential for life on the planet because it is a shield that keeps the Sun’s radiation away and protects the surface of Earth from the impact of meteorites. It also helps to regulate the Earth’s temperature and keep it within the range that is suitable for life. The combination of gases that form the atmosphere makes life possible. They are mostly nitrogen and oxygen, but there are other gases.

Exosphere: there are few gas particles here because they are less affected by the Earth’s gravity. They are not very dense. This the layer that is closest to outer space.

Thermosphere: satellites and space stations orbit in this layer. It is very hot and can reach 2000 ºC.

Mesosphere: it protects us from the impact of meteorites because its gases delete cause friction. This makes the meteorites heat up and burn.

Stratosphere: the ozone in this layer protects life from the Sun’s harmful UV radiation. Life would be impossible without this protection.

Troposphere: This is where atmospheric phenomena happen. It is the thinnest at the Earth’s poles. It is formed by dense gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen, but it also contains argon, water vapour and carbon dioxide.

1 In your notebook, copy and complete the sentences about the Earth’s atmosphere.

a) The atmosphere is...

b) It contains gases that…

c) It protects the surface of the planet from…

d) It stops the Sun’s…

e) It keeps …

2 Answer the questions about the layers of the atmosphere in your notebook.

a) Which layer is closest to Earth?

b) Which layer is least affected by gravity?

c) Which layer that stops radiation?

d) Which layer is the hottest?

13 The weather

Weather is how the term we use to refer to the events that are happening in the troposphere at a specific moment. For example, when the air is cold and humid, it will rain. The weather has got a big influence on our daily activities and it can have devastating consequences when it is extreme. The science that studies the weather is called meteorology. It predicts the weather so that we can be prepared.

Language Bank

Present continuous for future plans

14 Atmospheric phenomena

Clouds: they are formed when the water that evaporates because of the heat of the Sun joins with dust particles in the air.

Precipitation: when clouds are full of evaporated water, they precipitate. This precipitation can fall as rain, hail, sleet or snow, depending on the air temperature.

Wind: it is produced when two masses of air at different temperatures meet. Hot air rises and cold air sinks. This movement produces wind.

Weather front: it is the boundary between masses of hot and cold air. There is a lot of electric activity here and this causes large electric discharges that we call lightning. Sometimes, the quick movement of the air masses causes clouds to form, so there is heavy rain too. These are storms.

I want to see the stars! Please turn off those lights!

1 Kim and her friends are really interested in the observation of stars and are organising a session with an astronomer who can show them different constellations. Is this street a good place for this session? Why/Why not?

2 Talk to a friend and choose the elements that make it difficult to see stars where Kim is.

a) Street lights

b) Light from the shop windows

c) Light from the restaurant signs

d) Light from people’s houses

3 Look at the photo above and answer the questions.

a) Which areas have got more light pollution?

b) What kind of areas are they?

c) Where can you go if you want a clear sky to look at the stars?

4 Which of the streetlights causes the least light pollution?

Think 5 It is important to raise awareness about light pollution. Think of actions that can reduce light pollution at night in a populated area and prepare a leaflet to share this information with the rest of the class.

6 Organise a symbolic protest. Agree with your classmates on a time this evening when you are all at home. Turn off the lights for a minute and explain to your parents why this action is important for the environment. Then, share your experience with your classmates.

We’re studying the universe in school today, so we can dress as aliens!

Look, here come Kim and Pat. They look great too!

I... AM... AN... ALIEN ...FROM... A... DISTANT... PLANET.

I AM AN ALIEN! What are you doing to your planet? You must look after it!

1

Oh no, those children are breaking branches and pulling up plants.

They think Ben really is an alien! Haha, I bet they won’t pull plants up again!

We’re sorry. We’ll fix everything.

What are the small children doing that upsets Kim, Sol and Ben?

Think 2 Why do you think the children do as Ben asks? 3

What other things can we do to protect the natural environment?

1 Think, read and fill in the gaps.

the UnIVerSe

Origin: The ? Theory

Celestial bodies

Nebulae, ? , stars, planets, ? , asteroids and ?

Our galaxy

?

Our planetary system

Our planet

? ?

Planets

Mercury, Venus, Earth, ?

tHe earTh LaYErS

Systems Movements

Rotation and ?

Biosphere ?

Geosphere ?

Atmosphere

Geosphere

Our satellite

?

Crust ?

Outer core ?

Atmosphere

Exosphere ?

Mesosphere ?

Troposphere

1 Which celestial bodies can you find in the Solar System? In your notebook, write as many as you can from each category.

2 Which of the following celestial bodies do not have an orbit?

a) Comets d) Galaxies

b) Satellites e) Nebulae

c) Planets f) Stars

3 What happens as a consequence of the Earth’s tilt?

a) Day and night

b) The seasons

c) The weather

4 Which of the following images represent elements of the hydrosphere?

5 Unscramble the words and write them in your notebook. Which word is missing?

a) Esprtoeohspr

b) Tsoprahtesre

c) Eerxehops

d) Msepshoeer

1 Write the word for each definition in your notebook.

a) All the natural objects that exist in the universe.

b) Giant clouds of dust and gas.

c) Enormous balls of gas that emit light and heat.

d) Big spheres made of rock or gas that orbit around a star.

e) Very small planets.

f) Balls of ice and dust that orbit stars.

g) Small rocks that orbit the Sun.

h) The movement of the Earth around its axis.

i) The points where the Earth’s axis meets the surface.

j) The two halves into which the Equator divides the Earth.

k) The movement of the Earth around the Sun.

l) The moment during the orbit of the Earth when the Sun’s rays fall perpendicularly on the Equator.

m) The moment when the Earth is furthest from the Sun.

n) The Earth system that contains all the gas.

o) The Earth system that contains all life.

p) The Earth system that contains all the land.

q) The Earth system that contains all water.

2 Write four forms of precipitation that fall to the Earth.

My PROgrEsS

• I can explain what elements the Universe contains.

• I know what our Solar System contains.

• I can explain the Earth’s movements.

• I know the different layers of the atmosphere.

Draw a smiley

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