Texas TEKS 4.9

Science4th GradeEarth and space

TEKS Knowledge Statement (Expectation Cluster)

Earth and space. The student recognizes patterns among the Sun, Earth, and Moon system and their effects. The student is expected to:

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science

Cluster contents

4.9 is a TEKS knowledge and skills statement. These are the student expectations under it.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students gather records of temperature, daylight length, and the Moon’s appearance over time. They place observations in sequence, find repeating changes, and predict what will happen next.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can read a table, graph, or set of images and describe the pattern shown. They make a reasonable prediction and support it with specific evidence from the data.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think seasons happen because Earth moves closer to or farther from the Sun. They may think the Moon changes shape, or that Earth’s shadow causes its regular phases.
How to Assess It: Give students a monthly temperature and daylight graph plus four Moon images. Ask them to predict the next data point and Moon appearance, then cite one piece of evidence for each.

Lesson moves

Hold a foam ball beside a lamp, rotate in place, and sketch the lit shape seen at eight positions.
Compare January and June daylight and temperature data, then write which pattern changes first and what evidence supports the answer.
Give teams shuffled Moon phase cards and monthly weather cards to sequence, then have them explain one prediction from each set.
Use local daylight and temperature charts to choose a month for an outdoor event and justify the choice with two data points.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.9, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete cluster are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.