Strand 6.1: STRUCTURE AND MOTION WITHIN THE SOLAR SYSTEM The solar system consists of the Sun, planets, and other objects within Sun’s gravitational influence. Gravity is the force of attraction between masses. The Sun-Earth-Moon system provides an opportunity to study interactions between objects in the solar system that influence phenomena observed from Earth. Scientists use data from many sources to determine the scale and properties of objects in our solar system. Standard 6.1.1 Develop and use a model of the Sun-Earth-Moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar...

Strand 5.1: CHARACTERISTICS AND INTERACTIONS OF EARTH’S SYSTEMSEarth’s major systems are the geosphere (solid and molten rock, soil, and sediments), the hydrosphere (water and ice), the atmosphere (air), and the biosphere (living things, including humans). Within these systems, the location of Earth’s land and water can be described. Also, these systems interact in multiple ways. Weathering and erosion are examples of interactions between Earth’s systems. Some interactions cause landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that impact humans and other organisms. Humans cannot...

Strand 4.1: ORGANISMS FUNCTIONING IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTThrough the study of organisms, inferences can be made about environments both past and  present. Plants and animals have both internal and external structures that serve various functions for growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. Animals use different sense receptors specialized for particular kinds of information to understand and respond to their environment. Some kinds of plants and animals that once lived on Earth can no longer be found. However, fossils from these organisms provide evidence about the ...