GEMS Correlations with the Florida Sunshine State Standards

Grade Level Expectations and Benchmarks for Science
Grades K–2

Strand D: Processes that Shape the Earth


Return to Sunshine State Standards Page


Standard 1: The student recognizes that processes in the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere interact to shape the Earth.

Benchmark SC.D.1.1.1: The student recognizes that the solid materials making up the Earth come in all sizes, from boulders to grains of sand.

Kindergarten

1. knows that the surface of the Earth is composed of different types of solid materials (for example, sand, pebbles, rocks, clumps of dirt).

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Investigating Artifacts, Terrarium Habitats

First Grade

1. extends and refines knowledge that the surface of the Earth is composed of different types of solid materials.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Investigating Artifacts, Terrarium Habitats

Second Grade

1. extends and refines knowledge that the surface of the Earth is composed of different types of solid materials that come in all sizes.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Investigating Artifacts, On Sandy Shores, Terrarium Habitats

Benchmark SC.D.1.1.2: The student knows that life occurs on or near the surface of the Earth in land, air, and water.

Kindergarten

1. knows that life occurs on or near the surface of the Earth in land, water, and air.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Animal Defenses, Ant Homes Under the Ground, Buzzing a Hive, Eggs Eggs Everywhere, Elephants and Their Young, Hide a Butterfly, Investigating Artifacts, Ladybugs, Mother Opossum and Her Babies, Penguins and Their Young, Terrarium Habitats, Tree Homes

First Grade

1. knows some kinds of organisms that live on or near the surface of the Earth in land, water, and air.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Ant Homes Under the Ground, Buzzing a Hive, Eggs Eggs Everywhere, Elephants and Their Young, Hide a Butterfly, Ladybugs, Mother Opossum and Her Babies, Penguins and Their Young, Terrarium Habitats, Tree Homes

Second Grade

1. compares the characteristics of things that live on land, in the water, and in the air.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Ant Homes Under the Ground, Aquatic Habitats, Buzzing a Hive, Eggs Eggs Everywhere, On Sandy Shores, Terrarium Habitats, Tree Homes

2. knows that some organisms have adaptations that enable them to move from one medium to another (for example, dragonflies begin life in water, move to land, and then fly in the air).

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Aquatic Habitats, Buzzing a Hive, Eggs Eggs Everywhere, On Sandy Shores, Terrarium Habitats, Tree Homes

Benchmark SC.D.1.1.3: The student recognizes patterns in weather.

Second Grade

1. knows that weather conditions occur in patterns over time.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: On Sandy Shores

Standard 2: The student understands the need for protection of the natural systems on Earth.

Benchmark SC.D.2.1.1: The student understands that people influence the quality of life of those around them.

Kindergarten

1. knows ways to care for the Earth at home and in school (for example, limiting use of paper towels, turning off water while brushing teeth, turning off lights when no one will be in the room).

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Ladybugs, Sifting Through Science

First Grade

1. extends and refines knowledge of ways to care for the Earth at home and in school.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: Ladybugs, Sifting Through Science

Second Grade

1. knows ways that human activity affects the environment (for example, land fills for disposal of wastes, land development for homes and industry, dams to control rivers or generate electricity).

Appropriate GEMS Teacher Guides: On Sandy Shores, Sifting Through Science

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