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

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Knowledge and Skills Statement

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

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.

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

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.