Download Big Idea 5

School District of Hillsborough County
Middle School Science
Grade 8 – Comprehensive Science
Big Idea 5 – Earth in Space and Time
Benchmark
SC.8.E.5.1 - Recognize that there are
enormous distances between objects in
space and apply our knowledge of light and
space travel to understand this distance.
SC.8.E.5.1 - Recognize that there are
enormous distances between objects in
space and apply our knowledge of light and
space travel to understand this distance.
SC.8.E.5.2 - Recognize that the universe
contains many billions of galaxies and that
each galaxy contains billions of stars.
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
Essential Question
What is an astronomical unit, how
is it used to measure distances in
space, and why is this unit of
measurement necessary?
How can models be used to
represent distances in space?
Suggested Gizmos
Solar System Explorer
What are the major components of
the universe?
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
Solar System Explorer
How do planets, solar systems,
galaxies, and the universe differ
with respect to distance, size, and
composition?
What is a solar system composed
of?
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
How are the compositions of the
inner planets and outer planets
different?
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
What are stars composed of?
H-R Diagram
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
SC.8.E.5.3 - Distinguish the hierarchical
relationships between planets and other
astronomical bodies relative to the Solar
System, including distance, size, and
composition
SC.8.E.5.4 - Explore the Law of Universal
Gravitation by explaining the role that
gravity plays in the formation of planets,
stars, and solar systems and in determining
their motions
SC.8.E.5.4 - Explore the Law of Universal
Gravitation by explaining the role that
gravity plays in the formation of planets,
stars, and solar systems and in determining
their motions
SC.8.E.5.4 - Explore the Law of Universal
Gravitation by explaining the role that
gravity plays in the formation of planets,
stars, and solar systems and in determining
their motions
SC.8.E.5.4 - Explore the Law of Universal
Gravitation by explaining the role that
gravity plays in the formation of planets,
stars, and solar systems and in determining
their motions
SC.8.E.5.4 - Explore the Law of Universal
Gravitation by explaining the role that
gravity plays in the formation of planets,
stars, and solar systems and in determining
their motions
SC.8.E.5.4 - Explore the Law of Universal
Gravitation by explaining the role that
gravity plays in the formation of planets,
stars, and solar systems and in determining
their motions
SC.8.E.5.5 - Describe and classify specific
physical properties of stars: apparent
magnitude (brightness), temperature
(color), size, and luminosity (absolute
brightness)
How do stars vary in size?
H-R Diagram
What is the universe composed of?
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
Describe the scale of distances in
the universe.
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
What is gravity?
Gravity Pitch
What is the Law of Universal
Gravitation?
Gravity Pitch
Gravitational Force
How does mass and distance affect
gravitational attraction?
Gravity Pitch
Gravitational Force
How does gravity affect weight?
Beam to Moon (Ratios and
Proportions)
Weight and Mass
How does gravity affect planetary
motion?
Orbital Motion - Kepler's
Laws
What role did gravity play in the
formation of the universe and our
solar system?
Solar System
Solar System Explorer
What gases are stars composed of?
Star Spectra
SC.8.E.5.5 - Describe and classify specific
physical properties of stars: apparent
magnitude (brightness), temperature
(color), size, and luminosity (absolute
brightness)
SC.8.E.5.5 - Describe and classify specific
physical properties of stars: apparent
magnitude (brightness), temperature
(color), size, and luminosity (absolute
brightness)
SC.8.E.5.5 - Describe and classify specific
physical properties of stars: apparent
magnitude (brightness), temperature
(color), size, and luminosity (absolute
brightness)
SC.8.E.5.5 - Describe and classify specific
physical properties of stars: apparent
magnitude (brightness), temperature
(color), size, and luminosity (absolute
brightness)
SC.8.E.5.5 - Describe and classify specific
physical properties of stars: apparent
magnitude (brightness), temperature
(color), size, and luminosity (absolute
brightness)
SC.8.E.5.6 - Create models of solar
properties including: rotation, structure of
the Sun, convection, sunspots, solar flares,
and prominences.
SC.912.E.5.4 - Explain the physical
properties of the Sun and its dynamic
nature and connect them to conditions and
events on Earth.
SC.8.E.5.7 - Compare and contrast the
properties of objects in the Solar System
including the Sun, planets, and moons to
those of Earth, such as gravitational force,
distance from the Sun, speed, movement,
temperature, and atmospheric conditions.
SC.8.E.5.7 - Compare and contrast the
properties of objects in the Solar System
including the Sun, planets, and moons to
those of Earth, such as gravitational force,
distance from the Sun, speed, movement,
temperature, and atmospheric conditions.
SC.8.E.5.8 - Compare various historical
models of the Solar System, including
geocentric and heliocentric.
How does temperature relate to
the color of a star?
Star Spectra
How is star brightness measured?
H-R Diagram
How would you differentiate
between apparent magnitude and
absolute magnitude?
H-R Diagram
How are the sizes of stars
measured?
H-R Diagram
How does the size of star and its
distance from Earth affect its
apparent magnitude?
H-R Diagram
What would a model of the Sun’s
rotation look like?
Seasons: Earth, Moon, and
Sun
How are the planets’ distances
from the Sun related to the length
of their year and period of
revolution?
Solar System Explorer
How does a body’s mass and/or
distance between bodies affect its
gravitational force?
Solar System Explorer
Explain how scientists’ views on
planetary paths have changed over
time.
Solar System
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.
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.
How does the movement of the
Earth affect the length of its day
and its year?
Seasons in 3D
What conditions are affected by
the tilt of the Earth’s axis?
Summer and Winter
Seasons in 3D
Seasons: Earth, Moon, and
Sun
Seasons Around the World
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SC.8.E.5.11 - Identify and compare
characteristics of the electromagnetic
spectrum such as wavelength, frequency,
use, and hazards and recognize its
application to an understanding of
planetary images and satellite photographs.
What causes Earth’s seasons?
Summer and Winter
Seasons in 3D
How do the relative positions of
the Sun, Moon, and Earth influence
moon phases?
Phases of the Moon
Moonrise, Moonset, and
Phases
Why does the moon appear to go
through phases?
Phases of the Moon
How do the relative positions of
the Sun, Moon, and Earth compare
during solar and lunar eclipses?
Eclipse
2D Eclipse
3D Eclipse
How do the gravitational
interactions between the Sun,
Earth, and Moon affect tides,
including spring and neap tides?
How do scientists use the
electromagnetic spectrum to study
astronomical bodies in space?
Tides
Ocean Tides
Star Spectra
H-R Diagram
SC.8.E.5.11 - Identify and compare
characteristics of the electromagnetic
spectrum such as wavelength, frequency,
use, and hazards and recognize its
application to an understanding of
planetary images and satellite photographs.
Which tools are utilized to detect
electromagnetic radiation from
space?
Star Spectra