Earth’s Rotation and Time

This science and geography worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they analyze how Earth’s rotation leads to the creation of time zones. Through structured cause-and-effect chains, students practice scientific reasoning, reading comprehension, and geographic understanding while tracing how Earth’s east-to-west rotation produces day and night cycles and results in the division of the planet into 24 time zones.

Learning Goals

• Earth Science (Grades 5-7) – Explain how Earth’s rotation causes day and night
• Cause and Effect Reasoning – Complete logical chains connecting rotation to time zones
• Geographic Understanding – Understand why the world is divided into 24 time zones
• Reflective Scientific Writing – Explain how time zones support global coordination and daily life

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with science, geography, and ELA standards
• Visual Cause-and-Effect Structure – Supports conceptual understanding step by step
• Reflection Question Included – Encourages deeper thinking about real-world impact
• Flexible Use – Ideal for science units, geography lessons, review activities, or assessment prep

This cause-and-effect worksheet helps students strengthen understanding of Earth’s rotation and global time organization through clear, logical reasoning. By completing chains and reflecting on life without time zones, learners develop deeper insight into how scientific concepts shape everyday experiences. It’s a no-prep resource for both classroom and homeschool settings that supports scientific literacy, geographic reasoning, and thoughtful writing.

This worksheet is part of our Time Zones and Their Basis collection.