Unit 1: Earth's Place in the Universe

Performance Expectations:

• ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.

• ESS1-2: Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system.

• ESS1-3: Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Essential Questions:

• Why do Earth's seasons change?

• How does the Earth-sun-moon system cause patterns of lunar phases and eclipses?

• What is gravity?

• What role does gravity play in the orbiting of objects around the sun?

• What are relationships between objects in the solar system?

Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science & Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, Supporting Standards:

• • MS-ESS-1-1

  • MS-ESS-1-2

  • MS-ESS-1-3

Concepts & Skills:

• The students will know...

  • What determines the lengths of day and year.

  • What conditions are affected by the tilt of the Earth's axis.

  • Why does the tilt of Earth lead to different surface temperatures?

  • What causes seasons?

  • What causes the yearly cycle of the seasons on Earth?

  • The relationships between objects in the solar system.

  • The role gravity plays in the orbiting of objects around the sun.

  • How the Earth-sun-moon system cause patterns of lunar phases and eclipses.

  • What gravity is and how it plays a role in our solar system.