Aim: This activity is used to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth.

Method:

One child acts as the Earth spinning around. Other child is the Sun (centre of universe). Earth child rotates around the Sun child in an elliptical orbit.

Background Knowledge:

Previous to Galileo, the world was thought to be with the Earth at the centre of the universe. The Spanish Inquisition at the time and the power of the Church demanded Galileo Galilee answer the crime of heresy. His scientific evidence was not even looked at by reputable scientists at the time because no one dared to challenge the currently held view that Mankind, born of and in the image of God, was created by God to dominate the known universe. Galileo evaded punishment by death and was held a prisoner in his own home for the rest of his life. Only in the last few years did the scientific community of the time finally play a role in changing the attitudes of the Church for them to realise that he was right all along.

This activity can be extended to include the rest of the planets. If each child is at a different distance away from the Sun and are all trying to orbit the Sun. They can then realise that it takes much longer for the outer planets to circle the Sun compared to Earth. The Earth takes 24 hours and the other planets take different amounts if time. It would be good to find out.