--- title: Lessons for System & System Models | K-8 Grade description: Systems and System Models Crosscutting Concepts image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # Systems and System Models Crosscutting Concepts [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Asking questions and defining problems](https://www.knowatom.com/asking-questions-and-defining-problems) - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Analyzing and interpreting data](https://www.knowatom.com/analyzing-and-interpreting-data) - [Using mathematics and computational thinking](https://www.knowatom.com/using-mathematics-and-computational-thinking) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Earth Materials and Systems](https://www.knowatom.com/earth-materials-and-systems) - [The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes](https://www.knowatom.com/the-roles-of-water-in-earth-surface-processes) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Scale Proportion and Quantity](https://www.knowatom.com/scale-proportion-and-quantity) - [Systems and System Models](https://www.knowatom.com/systems-and-system-models) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Lessons for Systems and System Models Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-07-2023-03-00-08-0564-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/earth-materials-and-water-flow) ## [Earth Materials and Water Flow In this unit, students focus on the science phenomena of Earth’s interacting systems, evaluating how the hydrosphere and geosphere are shaped by one another. In the first lesson of the unit, students conduct an experiment to determine how the particle size of an Earth material affects its permeability to water. This page highlights key excerpts from the components of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/earth-materials-and-water-flow) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/earth-materials-and-water-flow) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-07-2023-03-08-23-2403-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/hydroelectric-dams-and-the-environment) ## [Hydroelectric Dams and the Environment In this unit, students focus on Earth’s interacting systems, evaluating how the hydrosphere and geosphere are shaped by one another. In this lesson, they analyze how people use dams to harness the energy in water, and how dams impact the environment. This page highlights each element of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/hydroelectric-dams-and-the-environment) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/hydroelectric-dams-and-the-environment) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-11-51-41-5726-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heat-and-evaporation) ## [Heat and Evaporation In the last unit, students learned about matter as they explored Earth’s position in the solar system. In this unit, students discuss how the sun provides light and heat to Earth, powering the water cycle, which in turn influences weather and climate. Students analyze the science phenomena of weather patterns in specific regions during a particular season. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heat-and-evaporation) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heat-and-evaporation) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-12-00-33-1835-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) ## [Energy from the Sun In this unit, students are introduced to the interdependence of living things and their environment as they analyze how individual organisms are suited to their particular environment, but all organisms require energy and nutrients to survive.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-07-2023-12-08-22-2663-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/environmental-change) ## [Environmental Change In this lesson, students evaluate the science phenomena of how organisms are affected when the environment changes. Students carry out an experiment to analyze two possible solutions that could be used to help a population of harpy eagles recover from the impacts of deforestation over time. This is a high-level extract of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/environmental-change) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/environmental-change) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-07-26-37-4633-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/frog-life-cycle) ## [Frog Life Cycle In this unit, students explore how living things depend on their environment and one another for survival. In this lesson, students discover phenomena surrounding how frogs have different internal and external structures throughout their life cycle that enable them to survive in their environments. This page highlights components of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/frog-life-cycle) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/frog-life-cycle) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Mealworm-Senses11.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/mealworm-senses) ## [Mealworm Senses In this unit, students focus on the science phenomena of sensory structures that allow animals to process information from the environment, and then use that information to influence their behaviors. This page showcases key components of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/mealworm-senses) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/mealworm-senses) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Selecting-Traits.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/selecting-traits) ## [Selecting Traits In this lesson, students explore the phenomena of senses to uncover how certain traits give individual organisms a survival advantage. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/selecting-traits) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/selecting-traits) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/gravity-motion-single.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/energy-transformation) ## [Energy Transformation In this unit, students focus on the science phenomena of the relationship between gravity and motion, tracing how gravitational potential energy transforms to kinetic energy in different energy systems. In this lesson, they investigate the relationship between the drop height of a bouncy ball and its rebound height. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/energy-transformation) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/energy-transformation) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-06-17-28-2489-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/mass-and-motion) ## [Mass and Motion In this unit, students encounter phenomena related to matter and energy as they learn about how engineers design materials with specific properties to address a wide range of societal needs.This page provides an overview of one lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/mass-and-motion) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/mass-and-motion) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-06-34-28-8926-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/earth-sun-moon-system) ## [Earth-Sun-Moon System In this unit, students explore the science phenomena gravity and its role in the universe. In this lesson they investigate how gravity within the Earth-sun-moon system causes different observable patterns. This page showcases key elements in this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/earth-sun-moon-system) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/earth-sun-moon-system) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-06-38-57-1697-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/earths-place-in-the-solar-system) ## [Earth's Place in the Solar System In this unit, students explore the vastness and mysteriousness of the universe, exploring how the Earth-sun-moon system fits into solar system phenomena and the Milky Way Galaxy. In this lesson they evaluate phenomena related to gravity’s role in forming the solar system and how mass and gravity determine weight on other planets. This page showcases key elements in this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/earths-place-in-the-solar-system) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/earths-place-in-the-solar-system) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-09-2023-06-38-57-5152-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-meterooid-shields) ## [Engineering Meteoroid Shields In this unit, students apply what they have previously learned about forces, motion, and matter to the solar system, focusing on the phenomena of gravity’s role in the universe. In this lesson, students engineer a solution to collisions between moving objects in space. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-meterooid-shields) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-meterooid-shields) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-06-50-12-9288-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/sun-angle-and-temperature) ## [Sun Angle and Temperature In this unit, students analyze the phenomenon of our sun as the primary source of energy on Earth. In this lesson, students explore how the sun’s uneven heating of the planet drives weather phenomena and climate phenomena, which result from complex interactions within Earth’s systems. This page is an extract from parts of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/sun-angle-and-temperature) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/sun-angle-and-temperature) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-06-50-09-1556-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather) ## [Convection and Weather In this unit, students explore the phenomena of convection by discovering how heat is transferred from warmer locations to cooler locations, which is a major cause of weather and climate. This page is a high-level extract of a lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 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