Science Curriculum Topic Study

Air & Atmosphere and Weather & Climate

 

VI.      Clarify State Standards

 

Kindergarten

SC00-S2C1-01: (History and Nature of Science, History of Science as a Human Endeavor): Give examples of how diverse people (e.g. children, parents, weather reporters, cooks, healthcare workers, gardeners) use science in daily life.

 

SC00-S3C2-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Science and Technology in Society): Describe how simple tools (e.g. scissors, pencils, paper clips, hammers) can make tasks easier. <e.g. thermometers can make taking temperature outside easier>

 

SC00-S5C2-01: (Physical Science, Position and Motion of Objects): Describe spatial relationships (i.e. above, below, next to, left, right, middle, center) of objects. . <e.g. the sun, clouds, etc are above our heads>

 

SC00-S6C3-01: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Identify the following aspects of weather: temperature, wind, precipitation, storms.

 

SC00-S6C3-02: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Describe observable changes in weather.

 

SC00-S6C3-03: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Give examples of how the weather affects peopleÕs daily activities.

 

Grade 1

SC01-S2C1-01: (History and Nature of Science, History of Science as a Human Endeavor): Give examples of how diverse people (e.g. children, parents, weather reporters, cooks, healthcare workers, gardeners) use science in daily life.

 

SC01-S3C2-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Science and Technology in Society): Describe how suitable tools (e.g. magnifier, thermometers) help make better observations and measurements.

 

SC01-S5C1-02: (Physical Science, Properties of Objects and Materials): Classify materials as solids or liquids.

 

SC01-S6C1-04: (Earth and Space Science, Properties of Earth Materials): Identify the following as being natural resources: air, water, soil, trees, wildlife.

 

SC01-S6C1-05: (Earth and Space Science, Properties of Earth Materials): Identify the ways to conserve natural resources (e.g. reduce, reuse, recycle, find alternatives)

 

SC01-S6C2-01: (Earth and Space Science, Objects in the Sky): Identify evidence that the Sun is the natural source of heat and light on the Earth (e.g. warm surfaces, shadows, shade)

 

SC01-S6C2-02: (Earth and Space Science, Objects in the Sky): Compare celestial objects (e.g. Sun, Moon, stars) and transient objects in the sky (e.g. clouds, birds, airplanes, and contrails)

 

SC01-S6C2-03: (Earth and Space Science, Objects in the Sky): Describe observable changes that occur in the sky (e.g. clouds forming and moving, the position of the Moon)

 

SC01-S6C3-01: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Identify the following characteristics of seasonal weather patterns: temperature, type of precipitation, wind.

 

SC00-S6C3-02: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Analyze how the weather affects daily activities.

 

Grade 2

SC02-S2C1-02: (History and Nature of Science, History of Science as a Human Endeavor): Identify science-related career opportunities.

 

SC02-S3C2-03: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Science and Technology in Society): Identify a simple problem that could be solved by using a suitable tool.

 

SC02-S5C1-02: (Physical Science, Properties of Objects and Materials): Classify materials as solids, liquids, or gases.

 

SC02-S5C1-03: (Physical Science, Properties of Objects and Materials): Demonstrate that water can exist as a: gas – vapor, liquid – water, solid – ice.

 

SC02-S5C1-04: (Physical Science, Properties of Objects and Materials): Demonstrate that solids have a definite shape and that liquids and gases take the shape of their containers.

 

SC02-S6C3-01: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Measure weather conditions (e.g. temperature, precipitation)

 

SC02-S6C3-02: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Record weather conditions (e.g. temperature, precipitation)

 

SC02-S6C3-03: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Identify the following types of clouds: cumulus, stratus, cirrus

 

SC02-S6C3-04: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Analyze the relationship between clouds, temperature, and weather patterns.

 

Grade 3

SC03-S2C1-02: (History and Nature of Science, History of Science as a Human Endeavor): Describe science-related career opportunities.

 

SC03-S3C1-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Describe the major factors that could impact a human population (e.g. famine, drought, disease, improved transportation, medical breakthroughs).

 

SC03-S3C1-02: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Describe the beneficial and harmful impacts of natural events and human activities on the environment (e.g. forest fires, flooding, pesticides)

 

Grade 4

SC04-S2C1-02: (History and Nature of Science, History of Science as a Human Endeavor): Describe science-related career opportunities.

 

SC04-S3C1-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Describe how natural events and human activities have positive and negative impacts on environments (e.g. fire, floods, pollution, dams).

 

SC04-S3C1-02: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Evaluate the consequences of environmental occurrences that happen either rapidly (e.g. fire, flood, tornado) or over a long period of time (e.g. drought, melting ice caps, the greenhouse effect, erosion)

 

SC04-S6C2-05: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Identify the Earth events that cause changes in atmospheric conditions (e.g. volcanic eruptions, forest fires).

 

SC04-S6C3-03: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Differentiate between weather and climate as they relate to the southwestern United States.

 

SC04-S6C3-04: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Measure changes in weather (e.g. precipitation, wind speed, barometric pressure).

 

SC04-S6C3-05: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Interpret the symbols on a weather map or chart to identify the following: temperatures, fronts, precipitation

 

SC04-S6C3-06: (Earth and Space Science, Changes in the Earth and Sky): Compare weather conditions in various locations (e.g. regions of Arizona, various U.S. cities, coastal vs. interior geographical regions).

 

Grade 5

SC05-S3C1-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Explain the impacts of natural hazards on habitats (e.g. global warming, floods, asteroid or large meteor impacts).

 

Grade 6

SC06-S3C1-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Evaluate the effect of the following natural hazards: sandstorm, hurricane, tornado, ultraviolet light, lightning-caused fire

 

SC06-S3C1-02: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Describe how people plan for, and respond to, the following natural disasters: drought, flooding, tornadoes

 

SC06-S4C3-01: (Life Science, Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem): Explain that sunlight is the major source of energy for most ecosystems.

 

SC06-S4C3-02: (Life Science, Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem): Describe how the following environmental conditions affect the quality of life: water quality, climate, population density, smog

 

SC06-S5C3-04: (Physical Science, Transfer of Energy): Explain how thermal energy (heat energy) can be transferred by: conduction, convection, radiation

 

SC06-S6C1-01: (Earth and Space Science, Structure of the Earth): Describe the properties and composition of the layers of the atmosphere.

 

SC06-S6C1-04: (Earth and Space Science, Structure of the Earth): Analyze the interactions between the EarthÕs atmosphere and the EarthÕs bodies of water (water cycle).

 

SC06-S6C1-05: (Earth and Space Science, Structure of the Earth): Describe ways scientists explore the EarthÕs atmosphere and bodies of water.

 

SC06-S6C2-01: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Explain how water is cycled in nature.

 

SC06-S6C2-02: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Identify the distribution of water within or among the following: atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere

 

SC06-S6C2-03: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Analyze the effects that bodies of water have on the climate of a region.

 

SC06-S6C2-04: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Analyze the following factor that affect climate: ocean currents, elevation, location

 

SC06-S6C2-05: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Analyze the impact of large-scale weather systems on the local weather.

 

SC06-S6C2-06: (Earth and Space Science, EarthÕs Processes and Systems): Create a weather system model that includes: the Sun, the atmosphere, bodies of water

 

Grade 7

SC07-S4C3-05: (Life Science, Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem): Predict how environmental factors (e.g. floods, droughts, temperature changes) affect survival rates in living organisms.

 

SC07-S6C3-04: (Earth and Space Science, Earth in the Solar System): Explain the seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres in terms of the tilt of the EarthÕs axis relative to the EarthÕs revolution around the Sun.

 

Grade 8

SC08-S2C1-02: (History and Nature of Science, Nature of Scientific Knowledge): Defend the principle that accurate keeping, openness, and replication are essential for maintaining an investigatorÕs credibility with other scientists and society.

 

SC08-S3C1-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Analyze the risk factors associated with natural, human induced, and/or biological hazards, including: waste disposal or industrial chemicals, greenhouse gases

 

High School

SCHS-S3C1-02: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Changes in Environments): Describe the environmental effects of the following natural and/or human-caused hazards: flooding, drought, earthquakes, fires, pollution, extreme weather

 

SCHS-S3C2-01: (Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, Science and Technology in Society): Analyze the costs, benefits, and risks of various ways of dealing with the following needs or problems: various forms of alternative energy, storage of nuclear waste, abandoned mines, greenhouse gases, hazardous wastes

 

SCHS-S5C3-06: (Physical Science, Conservation of Energy and Increase in Disorder): Distinguish between heat and temperature.

 

SCHS-S5C3-07: (Physical Science, Conservation of Energy and Increase in Disorder): Explain how molecular motion is related to temperature and phase changes.

 

SCHS-S6C1-01: (Earth and Space Science, Geochemical Cycles): Identify ways materials are cycled within the Earth system (i.e. carbon cycle, water cycle, rock cycle)

 

SCHS-S6C1-04: (Earth and Space Science, Geochemical Cycles): Demonstrate how the hydrosphere links the biosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere.

 

SCHS-S6C2-01: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Describe the flow of energy to and from the Earth.

 

SCHS-S6C2-02: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Explain the mechanisms of heat transfer (convection, conduction, radiation) among the atmosphere, landmasses, and oceans.

 

SCHS-S6C2-03: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Distinguish between weather and climate.

 

SCHS-S6C2-09: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Explain the effect of heat transfer on climate and weather.

 

SCHS-S6C2-11: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Describe the origin, life cycle, and behavior of weather systems (i.e. air mass, front, high and low systems, pressure gradients).

 

SCHS-S6C2-12: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Describe the conditions that cause severe weather (e.g. hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms).

 

SCHS-S6C2-13: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Propose appropriate safety measures that can be taken in preparation for severe weather.

 

SCHS-S6C2-14: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Analyze how weather is influenced by both natural and artificial Earth features (e.g. mountain ranges, bodies of water, cities, air pollution).

 

SCHS-S6C2-15: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): List the factors that determine climate (e.g. altitude, latitude, water bodies, precipitation, prevailing winds, topography).

 

SCHS-S6C2-16: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Explain the causes and/or effects of climate changes over long periods of time (e.g. glaciation, desertification, solar activity, greenhouse effect).

 

SCHS-S6C2-17: (Earth and Space Science, Energy in the Earth System (Both Internal and External): Investigate the effects of acid rain, smoke, volcanic dust, urban development, and greenhouse gases, on climate change over various periods of time.

 

Resources:

¤       Arizona State Board of Education. Arizona Academic Content Standards: Science Articulated by Grade Level. May 24, 2004. (Updated March 10, 2005) http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/science

¤       Keeley, P. 2005. Science Curriculum Topic Study: Bridging the Gap Between Standards and Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.