GEMS Correlations with the Florida Sunshine State Standards
Grade Level Expectations and Benchmarks for Science
Grades 3-5
Strand E: Earth and Space
Return to Sunshine State
Standards Page
Standard 1: The student understands the interaction and organization
in the Solar System and the universe and how this affects life on Earth.
Benchmark SC.E.1.2.1: The student knows that the tilt of the Earth
on its own axis as it rotates and revolves around the Sun causes changes
in season, length of day, and energy available.
Fifth Grade
1. knows the orbit of the Earth is slightly elliptical and the Earth
is closest to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere in winter.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: The Real
Reasons for Seasons
2. knows that the angle that the rays of the Sun strike the surface
of the Earth determines the amount of energy received and thus the season
of the year.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: The Real
Reasons for Seasons
3. knows the effect of the tilt of the Earth on polar climates.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: The Real
Reasons for Seasons
Benchmark SC.E.1.2.2: The student knows that the combination
of the Earths movement and the Moons own orbit around the
Earth results in the appearance of cyclical phases of the Moon.
Fifth Grade
1. knows the relative positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun during each
of the phases of the Moon.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Earth,
Moon, and Stars
Benchmark SC.E.1.2.3: The student knows that the Sun is a star
and that its energy can be captured or concentrated to generate heat
and light for work on Earth.
Fourth Grade
1. knows how the energy of the Sun can be captured as a source of heat
and light on Earth (for example, plants, solar panels).
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Aquatic
Habitats, Hot Water and Warm Homes From Sunlight, Terrarium Habitats
Benchmark SC.E.1.2.4: The student knows that the planets differ
in size, characteristics, and composition and that they orbit the Sun
in our Solar System.
Fourth Grade
1. knows characteristics of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Moons
of Jupiter
Fifth Grade
1. knows that the planets differ in size, characteristics, and composition
and that they orbit the Sun in our Solar System.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Messages
From Space, Moons of Jupiter, The Real Reasons for Seasons
Benchmark SC.E.1.2.5: The student understands the arrangement
of planets in our Solar System.
Fourth Grade
1. knows that gravity is the one of the forces that keeps planets arranged
in orbits around the Sun and the Moon in orbit around the Earth.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Moons
of Jupiter
Fifth Grade
1. knows the arrangement of the planets and the asteroid belt in our
Solar System.
Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Messages
From Space, Moons of Jupiter
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