Rotation Equation

This applied science and geography worksheet helps students in Grades 5 and 6 understand how Earth’s rotation creates global time zones through real-world travel scenarios. Learners follow a fun narrative featuring “Captain Zulu” as they calculate time differences between cities like New York, Tokyo, and Cairo, applying the concept that Earth rotates 15° per hour. The activity strengthens understanding of rotational motion while integrating math, geography, and scientific reasoning.

Learning Goals

• Earth’s Rotation & Time Zones (Grades 5-6) – Understand how Earth’s spinning motion determines local time around the globe
• Angular Speed Application – Apply the 15°-per-hour rotation rate to calculate time differences
• Geography & Global Awareness – Recognize how longitude affects time in different world regions
• Math-Science Integration – Use numerical reasoning to solve real-world Earth science problems

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary Earth science, geography, and math standards
• Engaging Story Context – Narrative format increases motivation and comprehension
• Real-World Problem Solving – Connects abstract rotation concepts to everyday experiences of travel and timekeeping
• Multi-Disciplinary Practice – Reinforces math skills within a meaningful science framework
• Low-Prep Printable – Ready for classroom or homeschool use

This rotation equation worksheet helps students see how Earth’s steady spin directly affects daily life around the world. By combining time zone calculations, geographic reasoning, and scientific concepts, learners build a practical understanding of rotational motion and global time systems. Whether used in a classroom Earth science unit or a homeschool lesson, this activity offers meaningful, engaging practice connecting astronomy to real-world problem solving.

This worksheet is part of our Earth’s Rotation and Revolution collection.