Science.K.9.A
The student is expected to
identify, describe, and predict the patterns of day and night and their observable characteristics; and
Knowledge and Skills Statement
Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among objects in the sky.
Demonstrated Proficiency
The following is an example of how to assess proficiency of this student expectation (SE) or a portion of the SE.
Provide students with images of places where it is clearly night or day. Ask students whether it is night or day and how they know. When identifying and describing patterns of day and night, focus on patterns that are consistently accurate. One pattern that is appropriate for kindergarteners to recognize are that stars may be seen at night, but not during the day. They may also recognize that the sky is generally dark at night and light during the day and that the temperature is usually cooler at night and warmer during the day. Kindergarten students should also know that some animals, such as owls, are typically seen at night while other animals, such as squirrels, are typically seen during the day. Students may observe that the moon is visible both during the day and at night.
Further Explanation
An example of a pattern could be the changing positions of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. A student could predict that the sun will appear to move across the sky. from East to West, or that the stars are would be more visible at night. Another pattern and prediction is the length and direction of shadows. In kindergartent students are not expected to predict the movment of shadows. However, in grade 5, students may could predict that shadows will be shorter at noon and longer in the late afternoon.
Supporting Information
Research
Bobrowsky, Matthew. 2020. “Science 101: Q: What Cycles in the Sky Can Students Observe?” Science and Children: Earth and Space Science for Young Learners 58, no. 2 (December 2020): 68–71. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27045187. Accessed November 17, 2022.
Summary: “SCIENCE 101: Q: What Cycles in the Sky Can Students Observe?” provides examples from a 1st-grade classroom demonstrating an understanding of patterns in the sky. It gives examples of how patterns in the sky can be observed by students and probing questions teachers can ask to engage them.