Seasons Dena Fauber WeExcell 2007-08 Earth, Moon, Sun Systems

Setting Suburban Middle School Campus Style Approx. 1000 students 93 7th graders participated Includes 10 IEP students

State Standards: 6-8 Earth and Space Science/Benchmark A 1. Describe how objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motions that explain such phenomena as days, years, seasons, eclipses, tides and moon cycles. 6-8 Earth and Space Science/Benchmark C 8. Describe how temperature and precipitation determine climatic zones (biomes)(e.g., desert, grasslands, forests, tundra and alpine).

Assessments Formative Summative Pre-test Season Drawings 1st attempt Group Discussion Summative Season Drawings 2nd attempt Post-test

1st Attempt

Extended Response

Short Answer

Multiple Choice

Question 2 vs. Question 4 Question 2 asked the students to label the seasons (notice that winter is on the right) Question 4 asked the students to identify the position of the sun and Earth when North America experiences winter. Many students reported that they did not look at the answers for tilt… just what was the same position as winter in question 2.

2nd Attempt

Suggested Modifications Lower level students Modeling the path the sun takes around the sun is key Guiding the students as they move Higher level students Leave the experience much more open to experimentation. Allow students to determine the position of Earth’s axis compared to the sun during revolution.

Reflection Pre-Test was eye opening. Over-all… very successful. Student comments of “Boy was I stupid before we learned this” were common. Need to focus on students reading the question and studying diagrams before answering questions.