September, October and November Standards Focus

To start this season, our foray into “Earth’s Place in the Universe” has us delving into patterns of the Sun, Moon and stars as well as understanding orbits, seasons and the use of models in our Solar System study.  We get to learn how to play “Moon Rummy”, study Moon craters, model eliptical orbits and MUCH more!

The second part of our season has us studying weather and climate; a pertinent topic in this untypical autumn in Sacramento.  We will be learning the differences between these important terms and researching the impact our drought is having on California.  Look forward to our first Design Challenge; with a weather theme!

Our NGSS this season include:

“Patterns of apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models. (MS-ESS1-1)”

“Models of the solar system can explain eclipses of the sun and the moon. Earth’s spin axis is fixed in direction over the short-term but tilted relative to its orbit around the sun. The seasons are a result of that tilt and are caused by the differential intensity of sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year. (MS-ESS1-1)”

“The solar system appears to have formed from a disk of dust and gas, drawn together by gravity. (MS-ESS1-2)”

“Earth and its solar system are part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is one of many galaxies in the universe. (MS-ESS1-2)”

“The solar system consists of the sun and a collection of objects, including planets, their moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the sun by its gravitational pull on them. (MS-ESS1-2)(MS-ESS1-3)”

“The complex patterns of the changes and the movement of water in the atmosphere, determined by winds, landforms, and ocean temperatures and currents, are major determinants of local weather patterns. (MSESS2-5)”

“Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns. (MS-ESS2-6)”

“Because these patterns are so complex, weather can only be predicted probabilistically. (MS-ESS2-5)”