Alaska Science Performance Standard L1/A8b

Alaska Science
Key Element A8b

A student who meets the content standard should understand the scientific principles and models that state whenever energy is reduced in one place, it is increased somewhere else by the same amount (Energy Transformations).

Performance Standard Level 1, Ages 5–7

Students observe that the sun warms the land, air and water.

Sample Assessment Ideas

Students examine and describe the effects of direct sunlight—measure the temperatures of water in sun and shade; exercise in the sun and in the shade; place white and dark colored objects in a sunny spot and feel the difference in temperature; compare the results when you repeat during another season.
Students stand close to a hot stove or near a fire and describe what it feels like on the front and back of the body. Students then slowly rotate and describe how this experience is similar to objects warming in the sunshine and to the Earth as a whole.

Expanded Sample Assessment Idea

Expanded Sample Assessment Idea

Students compile and report on temperatures near water and on land over the year.

Procedure Students will: Discuss how best to get comparable information (same altitude, same time of day, and so on) to track weather patterns through the year. Identify the information to be collected, such as cloudiness, temperature, wind direction, chill factor, and so on. Identify another classroom group (this might be an e-mail classroom elsewhere in Alaska) who will share and compare information for this activity. Collect, compile and chart temperature reports at locations near water (lakes or ocean) and at distances further from the water. Reflection and Revision Review information; look for patterns; discuss the patterns in terms of why the sun is heating the Earth differently at different locations and during different seasons.	Levels of Performance
	Stage 4	Student work is complete, correct and shows detailed evidence of the transfer and extension of knowledge relating to factors that influence the sun’s heating of the Earth. Student collects data reliably, clearly organizes the data, and logically interprets the data to identify several weather patterns.
	Stage 3	Student work is mostly complete and shows evidence of the transfer or extension of knowledge relating to factors that influence the sun’s heating of the Earth. Student collects and organizes data, and identifies patterns, though the work may contain minor errors, inconsistencies or omissions.
	Stage 2	Student work may be incomplete and shows limited evidence of knowledge relating to weather patterns and the factors that influence the sun’s heating of the Earth. Student collects and organizes weather-related data but may be unable to identify any weather patterns.
	Stage 1	Student work is mostly incomplete and shows misconceptions relating to the weather. Student may collect limited amount of data but does not organize or interpret it in a meaningful manner.

Standards Cross-References
( Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Standards)

National Science Education Standards

The sun provides the light and heat necessary to maintain the temperature of the Earth. (Page 134)

Benchmarks

The sun warms the land, air, and water. (Page 83)

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