Third Grade
Worksheets
What Does a Globe Show Us?
A globe is a model of the Earth. The Earth is so large that we cannot see all of it at once. A model of the Earth helps us to see what the whole Earth looks like. A globe is a better model of the Earth than a flat map. That is because the Earth is a sphere, like a ball. So a sphere is more like the Earth than a flat piece of paper.
Look at a globe. You can make it spin around and around. Why? Because the Earth itself spins around and around. Why don't we get dizzy? Because we're used to the Earth's motion. It has been spinning around since it first formed. Ever since you were born, you've been riding on a spinning Earth in space.
Earth spins or rotates on its axis. You can see the axis on a globe. It is the metal piece or pole that runs through the globe from top to bottom. On the Earth, the axis is just an imaginary line. It is the line around which the Earth rotates or spins. The top of the axis is the North Pole. The bottom of the axis is the South Pole.
The globe is tilted to one side. Why? Because the Earth itself is tilted. This tilt is what gives us the seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter. When the North Pole is turned toward the sun, the northern part of Earth has summer. At the same time, the southern part of Earth has winter.
About six months later, the Earth has traveled half the distance around the sun. Now the North Pole is pointed away from the sun. Now the northern parts of the Earth have winter. At the same time, the southern part of Earth has summer. With a globe, it is easier to see what makes the seasons change. It is also easier to see what causes night and day.
