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Earth, Sun, and Moon Resources

Standards, Big Ideas, and Source Links Open alignment details

Earth, Sun, and Moon Alignment

Virginia SOL 6.3 Source ↗ NGSS MS.Space Systems Source ↗

Virginia SOL 6.3 Focus

Students investigate the relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

  • Earth has unique properties.
  • Earth's rotation causes day and night.
  • Earth, Moon, and Sun positions cause Moon phases.
  • Earth's tilt and revolution cause seasons.
  • Earth-Moon relationships are the primary cause of tides.

NGSS Space Systems Connection

Primary connection: MS-ESS1-1

  • Develop and use a model of the Earth-Sun-Moon system.
  • Use models to describe cyclic patterns of lunar phases.
  • Use models to describe eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
  • Use models to describe seasons.

Big Ideas Students Should Build

  • Sky patterns can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models.
  • What we see from Earth depends on motion, position, light, and perspective.
  • Day and night, Moon phases, seasons, and tides are repeating patterns with causes.
  • Models are powerful, but every model has limits.
  • Evidence from observations, diagrams, graphs, and simulations helps students explain patterns.

Observe & Wonder Bell Ringers

These bell ringers help students observe sky patterns, notice changes over time, identify evidence, and ask scientific questions before explanations are introduced.

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