| Arizona Standards
Science Standards
(Adopted 6/23/97)
Standard 6: Earth And Space Science
Students understand the composition, formative processes, and
history of the earth, the solar system and the universe.
READINESS (Kindergarten)
Students know and are able to do the following:
- 6SC-R1. Identify basic phenomena and changes in the sky (e.g.,
sunrise, moon, stars)
PO 1. Identify basic phenomena in the sky
PO 2. Describe changes that occur in the sky
- 6SC-R2. Understand that the sun heats and lights the earth
PO 1. Demonstrate that the sun heats and lights the earth
- 6SC-R3. Identify how the weather affects daily activities
PO 1. Identify basic weather phenomena (e.g., temperature,
wind, precipitation)
PO 2. Explain how weather affects daily activities
- 6SC-R4. Identify basic earth materials (rocks, soils, water
and gases) and their common uses
PO 1. Identify basic earth materials
PO 2. Identify common uses of basic earth materials
FOUNDATIONS (Grades 1-3)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and
the following:
- 6SC-F1. Describe the basic earth materials (rocks, soils,
water and gases) and their physical properties
PO 1. Identify physical properties of earth materials
PO 2. Describe physical properties of earth materials
- 6SC-F2. Identify the planets and their relationship to the sun
PO 1. Identify the planets of the solar system
PO 2. Describe the relationship of the planets to the sun
- 6SC-F3. Identify the seasons and their characteristics
PO 1. Identify the seasons
PO 2. Describe the characteristics of each season
- 6SC-F4. Identify and describe the patterns of movement of
objects in the sky
PO 1. Identify objects that move in the sky
PO 2. Describe patterns of change visible in the sky over
time (e.g., seasonal position of the sun, constellations, the moon)
PO 3. Describe the patterns of movement of objects in the sky
- 6SC-F5. Identify major features of natural processes and
forces that shape the earth’s surface, including weathering and volcanic activity
PO 1. Identify natural forces (e.g., water, ice, wind) that
shape the earth’s surface
PO 2. Identify natural processes (e.g., weathering, erosion,
global warming) that gradually shape the earth’s surface
PO 3. Identify natural processes (e.g., earthquake, floods,
volcanic eruptions) that rapidly shape the earth’s surface
- 6SC-F6. Describe natural events and how humans are affected by
them
PO 1. Identify natural events that affect humans
PO 2. Explain how natural events impact human life
- 6SC-F7. Measure and record changes in weather conditions
PO 1. Measure weather conditions (e.g., temperature, wind
speed, rainfall)
PO 2. Record weather conditions
PO 3. Interpret changes in weather conditions
- 6SC-F8. Describe how fossils provide evidence about the plants
and animals that lived long ago and the nature of the environment at the time.
ESSENTIALS (Grades 4-8)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and
the following:
- 6SC-E1. Describe and model the motion of earth in relation to
the sun, including the concepts of day, night, season and year
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Distinguish between revolution and rotation
PO 2. Describe how the earth’s movement, in relation to
the sun, creates day and night
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Explain the motion of earth in relation to the sun,
including the concepts of day, night, season and year
- 6SC-E2. Describe common objects in the solar system and
explain their relationships
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe common objects in the solar system
PO 2. Explain how objects in the solar system are related
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe common objects in the solar system galaxy and
the universe
PO 2. Explain the relationship between common objects in the
solar system galaxy and the universe
- 6SC-E3. Describe the composition (including the formation of
minerals, rocks and soil) and the structure of the earth
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe the layers of the earth and their compositions
PO 2. Explain how rocks, minerals and soil are formed
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Explain the processes involved in the formation of the
earth’s structure
- 6SC-E4. Provide evidence of how life and environmental
conditions have changed
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe how life has changed over time (geologic and
recent)
PO 2. Describe how environmental conditions have changed over
time (geologic and recent)
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Compare and contrast the life and environmental
conditions within geological time periods
- 6SC-E5. Explain how earth processes seen today, including
erosion, movement of lithospheric plates, and changes in atmospheric composition, are
similar to those that occurred in the past
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Identify earth processes
PO 2. Compare the processes which affect the earth today with
those that occurred in the past
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Interpret evidence that erosion, plate movement and
changes in atmospheric composition as seen today also occurred in the past
- 6SC-E6. Describe the distribution and circulation of the
world's water through ocean currents, glaciers, rivers, ground water and atmosphere
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Explain how water is cycled in nature
PO 2. Identify the distribution of water on earth,
underground and in the atmosphere
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe the role water plays within the operation of
the earth
PO 2. Describe the movement of water on the earth
- 6SC-E7. Describe the composition and physical characteristics
(including currents, waves, tides and features of the ocean floor) of the earth’s
bodies of water
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe currents, waves, tides and ocean floor
features
PO 2. Describe the basic characteristics of the earth’s
bodies of fresh water and salt water
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe the types of bodies of water and their
physical characteristics
PO 2. Describe the chemical characteristics of salt water and
fresh water
PO 3. Describe the physical characteristics of salt water and
fresh water
- 6SC-E8. Describe and model large-scale and local weather
systems
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe the differences between weather and climate
PO 2. Define basic terms associated with weather systems
including fronts, pressure systems and types of clouds
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Create a weather system model
PO 2. Describe large-scale and local weather systems
- 6SC-E9. Describe the composition, properties and structure of
the atmosphere
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe the properties and the composition of the
layers of the atmosphere
(Grades 6-8).
PO 1. Create a model of the structure of the atmosphere
- 6SC-E10. Explain how technology has impacted both earth and
space science
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Explain the impact of technology on earth science
PO 2. Explain the impact of technology on space science
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe some technological advances that have impacted
both earth and space science
PROFICIENCY (Grades 9-12)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and
the following:
- 6SC-P1. Explain prominent scientific theories of the origin
of: the universe (Big Bang Theory), the solar system (formation from a nebular cloud of
dust and gas), and life forms (evolution)
PO 1. Describe the processes explained by prominent
scientific theories of the origin of the universe
PO 2. Describe the processes explained by prominent
scientific theories of the origin of the solar system
PO 3. Relate physical laws to processes involved in the
formation of the universe and solar system
- 6SC-P2. Demonstrate an understanding of the earth's tilt,
rotation and revolution and their effects on the seasons and the length of days
PO 1. Describe how the earth’s rotation causes day and
night
PO 2. Describe how the earth’s tilt on its axis and
revolution around the sun cause changes in relative length of days and nights
PO 3. Describe how the earth’s tilt on its axis and
revolution around the sun cause changes in seasons
PO 4. Describe the flow of energy to and from the earth based
on its shape, tilt, rotation and revolution
- 6SC-P3. Use the theory of plate tectonics to explain
relationships among earthquakes, volcanoes, mid-oceanic ridges and deep sea trenches
PO 1. Describe the relationship between the earth’s
internal heat and plate tectonics
PO 2. Describe the relationships among earthquakes,
volcanoes, mid-oceanic ridges, deep sea trenches and tectonic plates
- 6SC-P4. Use evidence (e.g., fossils, rock layers, ice cores,
radiometric dating) to investigate how earth has changed or remained constant over short
and long periods of time
PO 1. Provide evidence for changes in earth’s geologic
history, using data from relative age-dating techniques
PO 2. Provide evidence for changes in earth’s geologic
history, using data from absolute age-dating techniques
PO 3. Describe changes or relative constancy in earth’s
geologic history, using evidence gained through geologic dating techniques
- 6SC-P5. Identify, investigate and predict the factors that
influence the quality of water and how it can be reused, recycled and conserved
PO 1. Describe the properties of water that make water a
unique and essential substance
PO 2. Describe factors that impact water quality
PO 3. Describe factors that influence the reuse, recycling
and conservation of water
PO 4. Predict future trends in water quality control and
conservation, based on factors that influence water quality and usage
- 6SC-P6. Identify and compare the interactions between water
and other earth systems including the biosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere
PO 1. Describe the processes involved in the water cycle
PO 2. Describe the interactions between water and the
biosphere
PO 3. Describe the interactions between water and the
lithosphere
PO 4. Describe the interactions between water and the
atmosphere
PO 5. Compare the interactions between water and earth
systems
- 6SC-P7. Investigate, analyze and evaluate the factors that may
influence weather; describe their effects on the environment and daily activities on earth
PO 1. Analyze how weather and climate are influenced by heat
transferred from the sun to the earth
PO 2. Analyze how weather is influenced by both natural and
artificial earth features (e.g., mountain ranges, cities, bodies of water)
PO 3. Analyze how weather is influenced by both natural and
artificial dynamic processes (e.g., sunspots, volcanoes, pollution, air and ocean
currents)
PO 4. Evaluate the effects of various weather factors on the
environment and daily activities on earth
DISTINCTION (Honors)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and
the following:
- 6SC-D1. Identify and predict natural hazards, using historical
data
- 6SC-D2. Analyze and evaluate prominent scientific theories of
the origin of the universe
- 6SC-D3. Explain the geochemical cycle through the movement of
matter as it exists in different chemical reservoirs
|