Science.4.9.A

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The student is expected to

collect and analyze data to identify sequences and predict patterns of change in seasons such as change in temperature and length of daylight; and

1666 TEKS header image

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Earth and space. The student recognizes patterns among the Sun, Earth, and Moon system and their effects.

The further explanation is designed to be a resource for educators that helps them better understand the topic their students are learning. Further explanations may be written at a more complex level than would be expected for students at the grade level.

Seasonal patterns include a change in the number of hours of daylight over the course of the year. A student could predict that temperatures will begin to decrease in the fall and increase in the spring. Patterns of precipitation, including type and amount, may vary depending on the season.

In grade 6, students will relate the change in seasons to the tilt of the Earth. The diagram below models the Earth's seasons based on the relationship between the Sun and Earth. 

Colivine, Orbital relations of the Solstice, Equinox & Intervening Seasons, CC0 1.0 " class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center">
Diagram of Earth in four positions orbiting the sun. Earth at the top labeled March Equinox shows Spring in Northern Hemisphere and Fall in Southern Hemisphere. Earth at the right labeled December Solstice shows Winter in Northern Hemisphere and Summer in Southern Hemisphere. Earth at the bottom labeled September Equinox shows Fall in Northern Hemisphere and Spring in Southern Hemisphere. Earth at the left labeled June Solstice shows Summer in Northern Hemisphere and Winter in Southern Hemisphere.
Colivine, Orbital relations of the Solstice, Equinox & Intervening Seasons, CC0 1.0 

 

 

Glossary terms and definitions are consistent across kindergarten through high school in the TEKS Guide. The definitions are intended to give educators a common understanding of the terms regardless of what grade level they teach. Glossary definitions are not intended for use with students.

regular sequences that can be found throughout nature

one of the four quarters into which a year is commonly divided; a period associated with some phase or activity of agriculture; the period normally characterized by a particular kind of weather

Research

Burton, Stephen; Heather Miller; and Carrie Roossinck. "Fall Colors, Temperature, and Day Length." The Science Teacher 74, no. 6 (Septemenber 2007): 31–37. https://www.nsta.org/science-teacher/science-teacher-september-2007/fall-colors-temperature-and-day-length 

Summary: Students can use internet data to examine seasonal patterns such as day length and temperature. The teacher begins by having the class observe fall leaf color data across the United States and point out any patterns they notice. Students hypothesized that temperature played a role in the time of peak fall leaf colors and worked on testing their hypothesis. The class compared their findings with online weather data to confirm. Next, students examined day length in different cities and tried to decide if day length or temperature would explain the date of peak fall color. Students made graphs charting the different variables they studied and shared their results as a class.