Grade 2 Science Worksheet (Age 8) — Cambridge Syllabus: Earth & Sun — Day & Night, Sun, Changing Shadows — 30 MCQ, 20 Short Answer, 10 Problems

Instructions

Hello! Let's explore the amazing relationship between our Earth and the Sun. Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. For drawing questions, use the space provided to show what you know. Have fun!

Part A: Objective Questions

Circle the correct answer for questions 1-10.

1. What causes day and night?

• A. The Earth moving around the Sun
• B. The Earth spinning on its axis
• C. The Moon covering the Sun

2. The Sun is a...

• A. Planet
• B. Star
• C. Moon

3. When are shadows the shortest?

• A. In the morning
• B. At midday/noon
• C. In the evening

4. What does the Sun give us?

• A. Light and cold
• B. Darkness and heat
• C. Light and heat

5. How long does it take for the Earth to spin around once?

• A. 12 hours
• B. 24 hours
• C. 365 days

6. The part of the Earth facing the Sun has...

• A. Night
• B. Day
• C. Rain

7. A shadow is formed when an object...

• A. Makes light
• B. Blocks light
• C. Is see-through

8. In the morning, the Sun is ______ in the sky.

• A. low
• B. high
• C. not there

9. Why is it dangerous to look directly at the Sun?

• A. It is too cold
• B. It is too far away
• C. It can hurt your eyes

10. In the evening, your shadow is...

• A. short
• B. long
• C. not there

For questions 11-20, write 'True' or 'False' on the line.

11. The Sun moves around the Earth. _______________

12. We have night when our part of the Earth faces away from the Sun. _______________

13. A shadow is always the same length. _______________

14. The Sun is a source of light. _______________

15. You need light to make a shadow. _______________

16. The Earth is a star. _______________

17. It is daytime all over the Earth at the same time. _______________

18. Shadows are longest at noon. _______________

19. The spinning of the Earth is called rotation. _______________

20. The Sun gives us warmth. _______________

For questions 21-30, fill in the blanks using a word from the box.

21. The Earth _______________ on its axis.

22. The _______________ gives us light and heat.

23. A shadow is a dark shape made when an object blocks _______________.

24. In the _______________, shadows are very long.

25. It takes _______________ hours for the Earth to spin once.

26. The Sun is a big _______________.

27. When your part of the Earth faces away from the Sun, it is _______________.

28. Shadows are shortest at _______________.

29. The Sun provides us with warmth, which is also called _______________.

30. When the Sun is out, we call it _______________ time.

Part B: Short Answer Questions

Write your answer in a short sentence.

1. What is the Sun?

_________________________________________________________

2. Name two things the Sun gives the Earth.

_________________________________________________________

3. Why do we have a cycle of day and night?

_________________________________________________________

4. What is it called when the Earth turns or spins?

_________________________________________________________

5. What is a shadow?

_________________________________________________________

6. When, during the day, is your shadow the shortest?

_________________________________________________________

7. When, during the day, are your shadows long?

_________________________________________________________

8. Does the Sun actually move across the sky? Explain.

_________________________________________________________

9. Why should you never look directly at the Sun?

_________________________________________________________

10. If it is daytime in your country, what is it on the opposite side of the Earth?

_________________________________________________________

11. What provides the light that makes shadows outside during the day?

_________________________________________________________

12. How long is one full day and night cycle?

_________________________________________________________

13. In which direction does the Sun seem to rise?

_________________________________________________________

14. In which direction does the Sun seem to set?

_________________________________________________________

15. What would happen if the Earth stopped spinning?

_________________________________________________________

16. Is the Sun bigger or smaller than the Earth?

_________________________________________________________

17. What happens to the temperature when the Sun sets?

_________________________________________________________

18. Name an activity you can only do easily during the day.

_________________________________________________________

19. What is the name of the time when the Sun is highest in the sky?

_________________________________________________________

20. If you are standing outside, where will your shadow be if the Sun is behind you?

_________________________________________________________

Part C: Problem Solving

Read the problems and use your science skills to answer or draw.

1. In the box below, draw a picture showing the Sun and the Earth. Shade the part of the Earth that is having night. Label the 'Day' side and the 'Night' side.

(Space for drawing)

2. Imagine a flagpole standing in a field. In the box below, draw the flagpole and its shadow at 8:00 AM (morning).

(Space for drawing a long shadow)

3. Now, in the box below, draw the same flagpole and its shadow at 12:00 PM (noon).

(Space for drawing a very short shadow)

4. Look at your two drawings of the flagpole. What is the main difference between the morning shadow and the noon shadow?

_________________________________________________________

5. If a tree has a very long shadow pointing to the east, what time of day is it likely to be? (Hint: The Sun sets in the west).

_________________________________________________________

6. You trace your shadow on the playground at 9:00 AM. If you trace it again at 1:00 PM, will the second shadow be in the same spot? Why or why not?

_________________________________________________________

7. An astronaut is on the side of the Moon that is facing the Sun. Will he have a shadow? Explain why.

_________________________________________________________

8. List two things you need to make a shadow.

1. ______________________     2. ______________________

9. You are camping. How can you tell it is getting late in the afternoon without a clock?

_________________________________________________________

10. If the Sun appears to be rising in the sky, what is the Earth really doing?

_________________________________________________________

---

Answer Key

Part A: Objective Questions

1. B. The Earth spinning on its axis
2. B. Star
3. B. At midday/noon
4. C. Light and heat
5. B. 24 hours
6. B. Day
7. B. Blocks light
8. A. low
9. C. It can hurt your eyes
10. B. long
11. False
12. True
13. False
14. True
15. True
16. False
17. False
18. False
19. True
20. True
21. spins
22. Sun
23. light
24. morning
25. 24
26. star
27. night
28. noon
29. heat
30. day

Part B: Short Answer Questions

1. The Sun is a star.
2. Light and heat (or warmth).
3. Because the Earth spins (rotates).
4. Rotation.
5. A shadow is a dark area made when an object blocks light.
6. At midday or noon.
7. In the morning and in the evening.
8. No, the Earth is moving/spinning, which makes the Sun look like it is moving.
9. It is very bright and can damage your eyes.
10. Night.
11. The Sun.
12. 24 hours.
13. The East.
14. The West.
15. One side would be always day (and very hot) and the other would be always night (and very cold).
16. The Sun is much bigger than the Earth.
17. It gets cooler / the temperature drops.
18. (Sample answers: play baseball, have a picnic, fly a kite).
19. Noon or midday.
20. It will be in front of you.

Part C: Problem Solving

1. Drawing should show the Sun, the Earth, with one half lit (labeled 'Day') and the other half dark (labeled 'Night').
2. Drawing should show a flagpole with a long shadow.
3. Drawing should show a flagpole with a very short shadow directly underneath it.
4. The morning shadow is long, and the noon shadow is very short.
5. Evening / sunset.
6. No, it will not be in the same spot. It will have moved because the Sun's position in the sky changed.
7. Yes, he will have a shadow because his body will block the light from the Sun.
8. 1. A light source (like the Sun).     2. An object to block the light.
9. You can look at your shadow. If it is getting very long, it is late in the afternoon.
10. The Earth is spinning towards the Sun.