8th Grade Science 

Standards 

• SC.8.E.5.9 Explain the impact of objects in space on each other including: 1. The Sun on the Earth including seasons and gravitational attraction 2. The Moon on the Earth, including phases, tides, and eclipses, and the relative position of each body. High (EOC)

Big Ideas/ Enduring Understanding 

• The position and the place of the Earth as it rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun results in days, years, and seasons.

• The moon’s orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes what part of the moon is lighted by the sun and how much of that part can be seen from earth.

• The gravitational force of the Moon on the Earth causes tides.

Essential Questions 

• How are days, years, and seasons related to how Earth moves in space?

• Why isn’t the appearance of the Moon the same shape every night?

• Why there is a pattern to high and low tides?

Knowledge

• The earth rotates on its axis once in a 24 hour period.

• The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365 1\4 days.

• The tilt of the earth on its axis and its relationship to the sun cause different seasons.

• Effect of the Earth/moon system: including phases, tides, and eclipses, and the relative position of each body.

• The impact of the moon’s gravitational force pulls the water on earth causing tides.

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Skills

• Illustrate and label the relationship of the relative positions of the Earth and Sun that cause Earth’s day, year, and seasons.

• Analyze the relationship and the results of the relative positions of the Earth and Sun that cause Earth’s day, year, and seasons.

• Illustrate and label the relationship of the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and Sun that cause moon’s phases and eclipses.
  Analyze the relationship of the relative positions of the Earth, moon, and Sun that cause moon’s phases and eclipses.

• Analyze the relationship and the results of the relative positions of the Earth and Moon.

• Create and interpret graphs.

• Interpret tide charts