Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change
The student will investigate and understand basic patterns and cycles occurring in nature. Key concepts include
a) patterns of natural events such as day and night, seasonal changes, simple phases of the moon, and tides;
b) animal life cycles; and
c) plant life cycles.
Overview
This standard focuses on students understanding that many events on Earth happen in cycles or patterns. Examples of these patterns are day turning into night and night into day. Seasons cycle from fall to winter to spring to summer and back to fall. Light reflecting from the sun causes the moon to appear illuminated. The phases of the moon appear in sequence as the moon makes one revolution around Earth. Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth as it revolves around the sun. The main cause of the tides is the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon. Plants and animals also undergo life cycles from birth to death. It is intended that students will actively develop and utilize scientific investigation, reasoning, and logic skills (3.1) in the context of the key concepts presented in this standard.
a) patterns of natural events such as day and night, seasonal changes, simple phases of the moon, and tides;
b) animal life cycles; and
c) plant life cycles.
Overview
This standard focuses on students understanding that many events on Earth happen in cycles or patterns. Examples of these patterns are day turning into night and night into day. Seasons cycle from fall to winter to spring to summer and back to fall. Light reflecting from the sun causes the moon to appear illuminated. The phases of the moon appear in sequence as the moon makes one revolution around Earth. Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth as it revolves around the sun. The main cause of the tides is the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon. Plants and animals also undergo life cycles from birth to death. It is intended that students will actively develop and utilize scientific investigation, reasoning, and logic skills (3.1) in the context of the key concepts presented in this standard.
Understanding the Standards 3.8-3.9
A cycle is a repeated pattern. A sequence is a series of events that occur in a natural order.
The pattern of day and night is caused by the rotation of Earth. One complete rotation occurs every 24 hours. The part of Earth toward the sun has daylight while the part of Earth away from the sun has night.
The pattern of seasonal changes takes place because Earth’s axis is tilted toward or away from the sun during its revolution around the sun. Because the tilt of Earth on its axis is 23.5, the sun’s energy is not equally intense at different latitudes. Rays striking Earth near the equator do so at close to a 90 angle. Rays striking Earth near the poles do so at a much smaller angle and thus the same amount of sunlight is spread over a larger area. For this reason, the same amount of energy from the sun will be less intense nearer the poles and these areas will have a colder climate. Earth takes 365¼ days, or one year, to make one revolution.
The cycle of moon phases occurs as the moon makes one revolution around Earth. The visible portion of the moon that we see each night follows a pattern.
The tides follow a pattern of two high and two low tides every 24 hours. This pattern is caused for the most part by the gravitational attraction between Earth and the moon.
Plants and animals undergo life cycles (e.g., Frogs begin as eggs in water. The eggs grow into tadpoles, the tadpoles eventually become frogs, and the adult frogs lay eggs to start a new life cycle over again. In the plant life cycle, a seed grows into a new plant that forms seeds. Then the new seeds repeat the life cycle.).
The water cycle is the movement of water from the ground to the air and back to the ground by evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. The energy that drives this cycle comes from the sun.
During the water cycle, liquid water is heated and changed to a gas (water vapor). This process is called evaporation. The gas (water vapor) is cooled and changed back to a liquid. This process is called condensation. Water as a liquid or a solid falls to the ground as precipitation.
Our water supply on Earth is limited. Pollution reduces the amount of usable water; therefore, the supply should be conserved carefully.
Water is a simple compound essential for life on Earth. Living cells are mostly water. In each cell, the chemicals necessary for life are dissolved in water.
During the water cycle, liquid water is heated and changed to a gas (water vapor). This process is called evaporation. The gas (water vapor) is cooled and changed back to a liquid. This process is called condensation. Water as a liquid or a solid falls to the ground as precipitation.
Our water supply on Earth is limited. Pollution reduces the amount of usable water; therefore, the supply should be conserved carefully.
Water is a simple compound essential for life on Earth. Living cells are mostly water. In each cell, the chemicals necessary for life are dissolved in water.
Interactive websites
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html
- This website is great interavtive material the students are able to learn the different cycles.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lifecycles.html
- Students learn about the plant life cycle by "dissecting" a flower and learning what each part of flower does in the cycle.
Plant Life Cycle: Students learn about the plant life cycle by "dissecting" a flower and learning what each part of flower does in the cycle.
- This website is great interavtive material the students are able to learn the different cycles.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lifecycles.html
- Students learn about the plant life cycle by "dissecting" a flower and learning what each part of flower does in the cycle.
Plant Life Cycle: Students learn about the plant life cycle by "dissecting" a flower and learning what each part of flower does in the cycle.
Activities
http://www.discoverycube.org/wp-content/uploads/3-Moon-Phase-Flipbook.pdf
- Lesson plan for moon phases. Students make a flip book. Assessments
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.lp_plantcycle/
- For this lesson, children will watch time lapsed videos of plants to gain a greater understanding of the changes that occur as part of the life cycle.
://teachingtoday.glenchttpoe.com/lessonplans/the-water-cycle
- Another great lesson plan on the water cycle. Fun and engaging activity for children to participate in that helps to reinforce their knowledge of the water cycle and the importance that it holds.
- Lesson plan for moon phases. Students make a flip book. Assessments
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.lp_plantcycle/
- For this lesson, children will watch time lapsed videos of plants to gain a greater understanding of the changes that occur as part of the life cycle.
://teachingtoday.glenchttpoe.com/lessonplans/the-water-cycle
- Another great lesson plan on the water cycle. Fun and engaging activity for children to participate in that helps to reinforce their knowledge of the water cycle and the importance that it holds.
Assessments
http://tinyurl.com/6tsg968
- This worksheet could be used to assess a student on the water cycle. Students are instructed to fill in the blanks on a picture of the water cycle with a given word bank.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12606725/Lifecycle-of-a-butterly-fill-in-the-blank
- Students fill in the blanks on this worksheet about the life cycle of a butterfly.
http://tinyurl.com/7ac93ys
- Students are instructed to draw the different parts of the life cycle. Can be used as an assessment tool for teachers.
- This worksheet could be used to assess a student on the water cycle. Students are instructed to fill in the blanks on a picture of the water cycle with a given word bank.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12606725/Lifecycle-of-a-butterly-fill-in-the-blank
- Students fill in the blanks on this worksheet about the life cycle of a butterfly.
http://tinyurl.com/7ac93ys
- Students are instructed to draw the different parts of the life cycle. Can be used as an assessment tool for teachers.