Virginia SOL 2.7
SOL Standard (Key Ideas Cluster)
The student will investigate and understand that weather patterns and seasonal changes affect plants, animals, and their surroundings. Key ideas include
Virginia Standards of Learning for Science
Cluster contents
Key Ideas in This Standard
2.7 is a Standards of Learning science standard. These are the key ideas and practices under it.
Teacher's field guide
What This Cluster Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students observe how rain, wind, temperature, and seasons affect plants, animals, and land. They describe effects such as plant growth, animal movement, soil washing away, and changes that occur at different speeds.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a photo, short scenario, or weather record, students can explain what changed and what caused it. They can classify the change as quick or slow and support their answer with an observation.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may confuse daily weather with a season or assume every seasonal change happens suddenly. They may think wind only moves loose objects, not soil, or that all plants and animals respond in the same way.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: “A windy rainstorm hits a park after several dry weeks. Name one quick land change and one possible effect on a plant or animal.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Use a fan and spray bottle on trays of soil to observe and compare changes caused by wind and rain.
Ask students to write how a tree and a squirrel might respond when summer changes to winter.
Sort picture cards by plant, animal, or land effect, then label each change as quick or slow.
Keep a two-week schoolyard log of weather, plant appearance, animal sightings, and visible soil changes.
Free download
Printable 2.7 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 2.7, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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Related Standards
- 1.7
The student will investigate and understand that there are weather and seasonal changes. Key ideas include
- 4.4
The student will investigate and understand that weather conditions and phenomena affect ecosystems and can be predicted. Key ideas include
- 3.8
The student will investigate and understand that natural events and humans influence ecosystems. Key ideas include
- 2.6
The student will investigate and understand that there are different types of weather on Earth. Key ideas include
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