1. Which statement is scientifically correct?
SkillrHub F–10
AC9S2U01 — Topic Practice 1
Name: ____________________ Date: ____________
Earth, Sun, Moon and the solar system
2. Match each object to the best description.
| Object | Description letter |
|---|---|
| Sun | _____ |
| Moon | _____ |
| Earth | _____ |
A. planet B. star C. Earth's natural satellite
3. Complete the sentence: Earth is the __________ planet from the Sun.
4. A photograph of Earth from space shows blue oceans, land and white cloud cover. Write two observations you can make from the image.
5. Name one way a photograph of Earth can be taken from space.
6. A desk model shows the Sun as a large ball and Earth as a small bead only 40 cm away. Explain one reason the model is useful and one reason it is not an exact copy of the real solar system.
Day, night and shadows
7. Sort each observation into the most suitable box: Sun, Moon, most stars.
Mainly day sky
Mainly night sky
Can sometimes be seen day or night
8. A student says, “Stars disappear during the day.” Correct the statement.
9. A class measures the same pole's shadow.
| Time | Shadow length |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am | 150 cm |
| 12:00 pm | 65 cm |
| 3:00 pm | 140 cm |
When was the Sun probably highest in the sky? Explain using the data.
10. The shadow is shortest near the middle of the day. Predict what will happen to its length later in the afternoon and give a reason.
SkillrHub F–10
AC9S2U01 — Topic Practice 1 Answer Key
Checked teacher copy
- B. Earth is a planet.Earth travels around the Sun and is one of the eight planets.
- Sun → B (star); Moon → C (Earth's natural satellite); Earth → A (planet).
- Third.
- Accept any two supported observations, for example: Earth has a curved/round outline; large areas of water are visible; land is visible; cloud cover is visible.
- Accept: a camera on a satellite or spacecraft, or a camera used by an astronaut/space mission.
- Example: the model helps show relationships such as Earth being smaller than the Sun and travelling around it; it is not exact because real sizes and distances are enormously different and cannot both be shown accurately on a desk.
- Mainly day: Sun. Mainly night: most stars. Sometimes day or night: Moon.
- Example: stars are still present and shining during the day, but the bright daytime sky makes most too faint for our eyes to see.
- 12:00 pm. The shadow is shortest then (65 cm), consistent with the Sun appearing highest.
- Prediction: the shadow will usually become longer again. Reason: later in the afternoon the Sun appears lower in the sky.
SkillrHub F–10
AC9S2U01 — Topic Practice 2
Name: ____________________ Date: ____________
Moon and sky patterns
1. Why is a Moon diary with many dated observations more useful than one Moon drawing?
2. Match the Moon appearance to its name.
| Appearance | Name letter |
|---|---|
| A thin curved lit part | _____ |
| The visible face appears almost fully lit | _____ |
| The Moon is difficult to see because the lit side faces mostly away | _____ |
A. new Moon B. crescent C. full Moon
3. About how long does the familiar Moon phase cycle take?
4. A student says, “The Moon changes from a round ball into a crescent.” Correct this idea.
5. A time-lapse shows stars tracing arcs across the night sky. What movement of Earth helps explain this apparent motion?
6. Sort these patterns by timescale: a shadow changing from morning to midday; the Moon's phase cycle; different star patterns visible across seasons.
Within a day
Across about a month
Across seasons
7. Which is part of the regular Moon phase cycle?
Safe observation and cultural knowledge
8. Give one safe way to investigate the Sun's changing apparent position without looking directly at the Sun.
9. Why should a class identify the specific First Nations People or community when learning a sky story or sky knowledge example?
10. Design a simple observation plan for finding a sky pattern. State what you will observe, when/how often, and what you will record.
SkillrHub F–10
AC9S2U01 — Topic Practice 2 Answer Key
Checked teacher copy
- Repeated observations show change over time, allowing a pattern to be identified and a sensible prediction to be made. One drawing shows only one time.
- Thin curved lit part → B (crescent); almost fully lit → C (full Moon); difficult to see because lit side mostly faces away → A (new Moon).
- C. About 29–30 days.
- Example: the Moon remains approximately spherical. As it moves around Earth, we see different amounts of its sunlit half, so its visible illuminated portion appears to change.
- Earth's rotation on its axis.
- Within a day: shadow changing morning to midday. About a month: Moon phase cycle. Across seasons: different star patterns visible.
- D. Quarter Moon. Blue Moon, blood Moon and supermoon are special named events, not separate regular phase shapes.
- Accept: measure or mark the same object's shadow at different times; use teacher-provided safe images/time-lapse; use approved specialist equipment under appropriate supervision. Do not accept staring at the Sun or ordinary binoculars/magnifiers.
- Example: First Nations Australian sky knowledges are diverse and place-based. Naming the specific People/community respects the source and avoids presenting one tradition as if it belongs to all First Nations Peoples.
- Accept a workable repeated-observation plan. It must name the target observation, include repeated times/dates, and state a record such as a table, dated drawing, measurement or labelled notes. Safety must be appropriate if the Sun is involved.