Natural Cycles Study Guide
SOL Objectives:
3.8 Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change – Earth Science:
The student will investigate and understand basic patterns and cycles occurring in nature. Key
concepts include:
• a. patterns of natural events such as day and night, seasonal changes, simple phases of the
moon, and tides
• b. animal life cycles
• c. plant life cycles
Vocabulary: (Flashcards are attached to this study guide)
 Solar system—The sun and the objects that orbit around it.
 Orbit—The path an object takes as it moves around another object in space.
 Rotation—The spinning of an object on its axis.
 Axis—An imaginary line that goes through the North Pole and the South Pole of Earth.
 Revolution—The movement of one object around another object.
 Phase—The different shapes the moon seems to have in the sky when observed from
Earth.
 Moon Phases – Occur as the moon makes one revolution around the Earth.
 Cycle – A repeated sequence such as day, night, day, night, day night.
 Life Cycles – The changes that occur from birth thru adulthood.
 Gravity – The force that keeps us from floating off the ground into space. A powerful
pulling force between objects. Bigger objects = stronger pull.
 Sequence – A series of events that occur in a natural order. The four seasons follow a
sequence.
 Phases – Once part of a cycle of events. Example: full moon. Plants and animals also have
phases of their lives. Example: caterpillar – 1 phase of the butterfly life.
 Tides – The rising and falling of water levels of oceans, bays, gulfs and parts of many
rivers, caused by gravity between the Earth, the moon, and the sun.
 Seasonal Changes – 4 seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.
 Tilt – The Earth’s lean or slant on the axis.
Important Facts to Know:
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The
The
The
The
earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours causing day and night.
earth revolves around the sun once every 365 days causing seasons.
moon reflects light from the sun. It does not give off light of its own.
moon’s gravity causes tides.
*Be able to draw the phases of the moon—new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter.
1st Quarter
New Moon
3rd Quarter
Full Moon
*To recognize the relationship between Earth, Sun, and Moon:
- That result in day/night
- Seasonal changes
- Phases of the moon
- The tides
Seasonal Changes
Season
What is the
temperature like?
How long are the
days and nights?
days are longer than
nights
How is Earth’s axis
tilted?
Winter
very cold
away from sun
Spring
medium
both are the same
not away or towards
sun
Summer
warm/hot
days are longer than
nights
towards the sun
Fall
cool
both the same
not away or towards
sun
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Explain the pattern of growth & change of organisms such as frog and butterflies.
Ex. Eggs
caterpillar
chrysalis
butterfly
Ex. Eggs

Explain the life cycle of a plant.
Ex. Seed
seedlings
tadpole
frog
adult plant produces
flowers & seeds
Adult plant
drops seeds