Standards
Idaho State Standards
Here are correlations to the Idaho State Language and Math standards and to the Idaho State Science Standards. For more information about the overall standards, see the complete Idaho Content Standards for Science, the Next Generation Science Standards, and the alignment between Idaho and NGSS Science Standards. You may also access the Idaho English Language Arts/Literacy Standards and Mathematics Standards.
Language
First Grade
ELA-1.RC.NF.6b
Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in texts heard or read.
Suggested Lesson
Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast two space bodies, such as comets and asteroids, or Mars and Earth. Find printable Venn diagrams here.
Third Grade
ELA-3.RS.IP.1
Conduct short research tasks to take some action or share findings orally or in writing by gathering and recording information on a specific topic from reference texts or through interviews, and using text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information efficiently.
Suggested Lesson
Read the book, The Everything Kids' Astronomy Book by Kathi Wagner (ISBN: 1598695444). Point out and discuss text features of the book.
Fifth Grade
ELA-5.RC.NF.6e
Explain how authors use evidence and reasons to support specific claims in texts, identifying which reasons and evidence support which claims.
Suggested Lesson
Determine the author's purpose in a science book about astronomy by listing key points that identify how the author feels about a certain subject.
Math
First Grade
Math-1.MD.A.2
Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps.
Suggested Lesson
Compare the size of the planets by measuring them in “earths.” Field of Science has some helpful images for this activity.
Fourth Grade
Math-4.MD.A.1
Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units.
a.Within a single system of measurement, express measurements in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit.
b.Record measurement equivalents in a two-column table.
Suggested Lesson
Create a scale model of the solar system. Find helpful resources for this lesson at NASA's JPL, Education Science Projects, and University of California.
Sixth Grade
Math-6.EE.B.6
Use variables to represent numbers and write expressions when solving a real-world or mathematical problem; understand that a variable can represent an unknown number, or, depending on the purpose at hand, any number in a specified set.
Suggested Lesson
Using this phase of the moon calendar, create a calculation for identifying when a full moon will occur months from now without the use of the calendar.
Science
First Grade
Earth and Space Sciences: 1-ESS-1.1
Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
Supporting Content
Patterns of the motion of the sun, moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, and predicted.
Assessment of star patterns is limited to stars being seen at night but not during the day.
Fifth Grade
Earth and Space Sciences: 5-ESS-1.1
Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from the Earth.
Supporting Content
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.
Earth and Space Sciences: 5-ESS-1.2
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.
Supporting Content
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 Sounth poles causes 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.
Sixth Grade
Physical Sciences: MS-PS-2.4
Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects
Supporting Content
Gravitational forces are always attractive. There is a gravitational force between any two masses, but it is very small except when one or both of the objects have large mass- e.g, Earth and Sun.
Examples of evidence for arguments could include data generated from simulations or digital tools; and charts displaying mass, strength of interaction, distance from the Sun, and orbital periods of objects within the solar system.
Physical Sciences: MS-PS-2.1
Apply Newton's Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.
Supporting Content
Examples of practical problems could include the impact of collisions between a meteor and a space vehicle.
Earth and Space Sciences: MS-ESS-1.3
Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.
Supporting Content
Emphasis is on the analysis of data from Earth-based instruments, space-based telescopes, and spacecraft to determine similarities and differences among solar system objects. Examples of scale properties include the sizes of an object's layers, surface features, and orbital radius.
Earth and Space Sciences: MS-ESS-1.2
Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system.
Supporting Content
Earth and its solar system are part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is one of many galaxies in the universe.
A solar system consists of a star and a collection of objects, including planets, their moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the star by its gravitational pull on them.
Emphasis for the model is on gravity as the force that holds together a solar system and Milky Way galaxy and controls orbital motions within them.
Earth and Space Sciences: MS-ESS-1.1
Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
Supporting Content
Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models.
This model of the solar system can explain eclipses of the Sun and Moon. Earth's spin axis is fixed in direction over the short term but tilted relative to its orbit around the Sun.