The earth and the universe have always been sources of inspiration for people. Successive civilizations have regarded their knowledge of the earth and universe as critical to their survival. Some eras of human development are so closely associated with the resources they used that they are referred to by the names of those key resources; for example, the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. We depend on the earth for the resources we extract from the ground, for the air we breathe, and for the water that sustains life. Our way of life depends on the landscape, on the weather and on climate.
Learners recognize the importance of exploration and investigation of the earth and universe. They observe periodical changes in their local environment during day and night. They find out about the importance of the sun and its movement as seen from the earth. They predict the sun’s position at different times of the day. They relate the sun’s position and time with the help of shadow sticks. Learners make models, do simulations and role plays to illustrate the spatial relationship of the sun, earth and moon, and explain the seasons. They relate the passage of time to the movement of the earth around the sun, the moon around the earth and the rotation of the earth on its axis. They appreciate that there are eight planets, including the Earth, in our solar system and they orbit the sun. Learners study the structure of the earth.