Download Grade 8 SC.E.1.3.1 BENCHMARK SC.E.1.3.1 Strand E Earth and

Grade 8
SC.E.1.3.1
BENCHMARK SC.E.1.3.1
Strand
E
Earth and Space
Standard
1
The student understands the interaction and organization in
the Solar System and the universe and how this affects life
on Earth.
Benchmark
SC.E.1.3.1
The student understands the vast size of our Solar System
and the relationship of the planets and their satellites. This
benchmark also assesses SC.E.1.3.2.11
Item Type(s)
MC, GR, SR
Benchmark Clarification
The student identifies or describes the following concepts:
• the arrangement of planets in orbit around the Sun;
• the relationship between tides on Earth and positions of
the Moon, the Sun, and Earth;
• the relative size of the planets (i.e., ordering planets by
size);
• the relative distance between the planets;
• the relative size of the solar system;
• the orbit of planets around the Sun and moons’ orbits
around the planets; and
• other celestial bodies may be assessed such as meteors,
asteroids, and comets.
Content Limits
Items will NOT assess the student’s ability to name the
planets and their satellites.
Items will NOT require the memorization of planetary data.
Stimulus Attributes
Items may provide the student with data describing
properties of planets in chart, diagram, picture, or table
form.
Response Attributes
Items will describe units in which the answer is to be given.
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The complete text for SC.E.1.3.2 is “The student knows that available data from various satellite probes show the
similarities and differences among planets and their moons in the Solar System.”
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DRAFT, December 2002, © Florida Department of Education
Grade 8
SC.E.1.3.1
Sample MC Item
A small satellite orbits Pluto. Eight satellites orbit Neptune,
the closest planet to Pluto. Pluto is much smaller than
Neptune. Why isn’t Pluto a satellite of Neptune?
★
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Sun’s gravity is the primary influence on Pluto.
Neptune is not large enough to capture Pluto as a
satellite.
Neptune’s gravitational pull is neutralized by its
eight satellites.
Pluto’s satellite’s gravitational pull keeps Pluto
away from other planets.
Sample GR Item
Mercury orbits the Sun at nearly 48 kilometers per second
(km/sec) and completes an orbit every 88 Earth days. How
many complete orbits around the Sun will Mercury make
during one Earth year?
Answer
4
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DRAFT, December 2002, © Florida Department of Education
Grade 8
SC.E.1.3.1
Sample SR Item
If you look up on a clear night when the Moon is full, you
will see dark spots, circles, and white patches on the
Moon’s surface. Observe the Moon on clear nights for one
continuous month, and you will see the same side of the
Moon from any location.
Explain why you always observe the same side of the
Moon while the Moon is revolving in its orbit about Earth.
Be sure to include information about the rotations of the
Moon and Earth.
Correct and Complete Response
During each lunar month the Moon rotates once on its own
axis and revolves once around the Earth. The rate at which
the Moon rotates on its axis is the same as the rate at which
it revolves around the Earth. This is why you would always
observe the same side of the Moon.
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DRAFT, December 2002, © Florida Department of Education
Grade 8
SC.E.1.3.4
BENCHMARK SC.E.1.3.4
Strand
E
Earth and Space
Standard
1
The student understands the interaction and organization in
the Solar System and the universe and how this affects life
on Earth.
Benchmark
SC.E.1.3.4
The student knows that stars appear to be made of similar
chemical elements, although they differ in age, size,
temperature, and distance.
Item Type(s)
MC
Benchmark Clarification
The student identifies similarities in the age, brightness,
size, temperature, chemical elements, and distances of
stars.
Content Limits
Items will only reference the stars in the Milky Way
galaxy.
Items will NOT assess the student’s knowledge of names of
specific stars.
Items may address the gas components in stars.
Items may address the life cycle of stars.
Stimulus Attributes
None specified.
Response Attributes
None specified.
Sample MC Item
Louisa identifies two main sequence stars through her
telescope at home. Which is a common characteristic these
main sequence stars share?
A.
B.
★
C.
D.
diameter
gravitational pull
temperature range
distance from Earth
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DRAFT, December 2002, © Florida Department of Education
Grade 8
SC.E.2.3.1
BENCHMARK SC.E.2.3.1
Strand
E
Earth and Space
Standard
2
The student recognizes the vastness of the universe and the
Earth’s place in it.
Benchmark
SC.E.2.3.1
The student knows that thousands of other galaxies appear
to have the same elements, forces, and forms of energy
found in our Solar System. This benchmark also assesses
SC.E.1.3.3.12
Item Type(s)
MC
Benchmark Clarification
The student identifies characteristics and properties of
different galaxies in the universe.
Content Limits
Items may address the life cycle of stars.
Items will NOT assess the student’s knowledge of names of
specific stars other than our Sun.
Stimulus Attributes
None specified.
Response Attributes
None specified.
Sample MC Items
M31 is a galaxy relatively near the Milky Way galaxy.
Which is a common characteristic that a solar system in
each galaxy would always share?
★
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A.
B.
C.
D.
gravity
asteroid belt
gaseous planets
the element iron
The complete text for SC.E.1.3.3 is “The student understands that our sun is one of many stars in our galaxy.”
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DRAFT, December 2002, © Florida Department of Education