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Students learn about evidence for Earth's rotation by making observations of a Foucault pendulum video and a Coriolis effect simulator. Students then provide reasoning for why the evidence they have investigated supports the claim that the Earth rotates. Additionally, students learn about the concept of time zones by graphing time vs longitude data and creating an algebraic model to represent the relationship between time and latitude.

What humans see and experience from Earth is largely explained by the Earth's relative motion and position. In this unit, students will explore simulators, 3-D models, and data in order to develop an understanding of celestial phenomena and create their own models that help explain concepts such as the apparent path of constellations and the Sun, seasons, and the phases of the Moon.