Virginia Standards of Learning and Associated Curriculum Framework
VA SOL 3.8 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
Curriculum Framework:
This strand focuses on student understanding of patterns in nature, natural cycles, and changes that occur both quickly and slowly over time. An important idea represented in this strand is the relationship among Earth patterns, cycles, and change and their effects on living organisms. The topics developed include noting and measuring changes, weather and seasonal changes, the water cycle, cycles in the Earth-moon-sun system, and change in Earth’s surface over time. This strand includes science standards K.9, K.10, 1.7, 2.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.7, 4.8, and 5.7.
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. 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.
Vocabulary:
Autumn
Axis
Condensation
Crest
Ebb
Equator
Evaporation
Gravity
Gravitational Pull
Hemisphere
Mass
Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Southern, Indian, Artic
Orbit
Phase
Rotation
Sunrise
Sunset
Tide
Tilt
Wave
Waxing
Waning
Gibbous
Crescent
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
Curriculum Framework:
This strand focuses on student understanding of patterns in nature, natural cycles, and changes that occur both quickly and slowly over time. An important idea represented in this strand is the relationship among Earth patterns, cycles, and change and their effects on living organisms. The topics developed include noting and measuring changes, weather and seasonal changes, the water cycle, cycles in the Earth-moon-sun system, and change in Earth’s surface over time. This strand includes science standards K.9, K.10, 1.7, 2.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.7, 4.8, and 5.7.
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. 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.
Vocabulary:
Autumn
Axis
Condensation
Crest
Ebb
Equator
Evaporation
Gravity
Gravitational Pull
Hemisphere
Mass
Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Southern, Indian, Artic
Orbit
Phase
Rotation
Sunrise
Sunset
Tide
Tilt
Wave
Waxing
Waning
Gibbous
Crescent