Earth’s Systems: Processes That Shape the Earth
In Part I Students explore the solar system, gravitational force of Earth, the sun as a star in comparison to other stars, and the orbits of Earth around the sun, and of the moon around Earth. Students learn how these concepts help us to understand and recognize observable patterns that explain day vs night, daily changes in length and direction of shadows, and positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year. In Part II students explore the interaction between Earth’s geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere to affect Earth’s surface materials and processes. Students learn how humans impact these systems, and ways we can protect Earth’s resources and environment.
Standards
- 5-PS2-1. Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
- 5-ESS1-1. Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the Sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.
- 5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.
- 5-ESS2-1. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
- 5-ESS2-2. Describe and graph the amounts of saltwater and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.
- 5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect Earth’s resources and environment.
Essential questions and big ideas of the unit
Part I: Space Systems
- How does gravity keep things on Earth?
- The gravitational force of Earth acting on an object near Earth’s surface pulls that object toward the planet’s center. (5-PS2-1)
- How does the size and location of objects in space determine how they appear?
- The sun is a star that appears larger and brighter than other stars because it is closer. Stars range greatly in their distance from Earth. (5-ESS1-1)
- Why do objects in the day and night sky appear to change over time?
- The orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year. (5-ESS1-2)
Part II: Earth’s Systems
- What determines weather and climate on Earth?
- Earth’s major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans). These systems interact in multiple ways to affect Earth’s surface materials and processes (5-ESS2-1)
- Why is the ocean so important on Earth, and what role does it play in shaping the Earth, its weather, and its climate?
- The ocean supports a variety of ecosystems and organisms, shapes landforms, and influences climate. Winds and clouds in the atmosphere interact with the landforms to determine patterns of weather. (5-ESS2-1)
- Where can we find water on Earth?
- Nearly all of Earth’s available water is in the ocean. Most Freshwater is in glaciers or underground; only a tiny fraction is in streams, lakes, wetlands, and the atmosphere. (5-ESS2-2)
- How can Humans help to protect our resources and environment?
- Human activities in agriculture, industry, and everyday life have had major effects on the land, vegetation, streams, ocean, air, and even outer space. But individuals and communities are doing things to help protect Earth’s resources and environments. (5-ESS3-1)
Download the complete Grade 5 Science Unit 1 framework to customize for your own planning.