RPSEC Student Programs for
South Carolina & Georgia Schools

South Carolina Schools

Georgia Schools

Grade 4: SCSS 4.1, 4.2, 4.4
Grade 6: SCSS 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7
Grade 8: SCSS 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5

Grade 4 Science
Weather
Standard 4-4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of weather patterns and phenomena. (Earth Science)

Indicators:
4.1 Summarize the processes of the water cycle (including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff).
4.2 Classify clouds according to their three basic types (cumulus, cirrus, and stratus) and summarize how clouds form.
4.4 Summarize the conditions and effects of severe weather phenomena (including thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes) and related safety concerns.

Grade 6 Science
Earth’s Atmosphere and Weather
Standard 6-4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship
between Earth’s atmospheric properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth
Science)

Indicators:
4.2 Summarize the interrelationships among the dynamic processes of the water cycle
(including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, condensation, surface-water flow, and groundwater flow).
4.3 Classify shapes and types of clouds according to elevation and their associated
weather conditions and patterns.
4.4 Summarize the relationship of the movement of air masses, high and low pressure
systems, and frontal boundaries to storms (including thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes) and other weather conditions.
4.7 Explain how solar energy affects Earth’s atmosphere and surface (land and water).

Grade 8 Science
Astronomy: Earth and Space Systems
Standard 8-4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics, structure, and predictable motions of celestial bodies. (Earth Science)

Indicators:
4.2 Summarize the characteristics of the surface features of the Sun: photosphere, corona, sunspots, prominences, and solar flares.
4.3 Explain how the surface features of the Sun may affect Earth.
4.4 Explain the motions of Earth and the Moon and the effects of these motions as they orbit the Sun (including day, year, phases of the Moon, eclipses, and tides).
4.5 Explain how the tilt of Earth’s axis affects the length of the day and the amount of heating on Earth’s surface, thus causing the seasons of the year.

Grade 4: S4E3 c, d, e
Grade 6: S6E3 a, b / S6E4 a, b, c

Grade 4 Science
S4E3: Students will differentiate between the states of water and how they relate to the water cycle and weather.

Indicators:
c. Investigate how clouds are formed.
d. Explain the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation).
e. Investigate different forms of precipitation and sky conditions (rain, snow, sleet, hail, clouds, and fog).

Grade 6 Science
S6E3: Students will recognize the significant role of water in earth processes.

Indicators:
a. Explain that a large portion of the Earth’s surface is water, consisting of oceans, rivers, lakes, underground water, and ice.
b. Relate various atmospheric conditions to stages of the water cycle.

S6E4: Students will understand how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather.

Indicators:
a. Demonstrate that land and water absorb and lose heat at different rates and explain the resulting effects on weather patterns.
b. Relate unequal heating of land and water surfaces to form large global wind systems and weather events such as tornados and thunderstorms.
c. Relate how moisture evaporating from the oceans affects the weather patterns and the weather events such as hurricanes.