Study Buddy Destination: Southeastern United States



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Study Buddy

Destination: Southeastern United States

Dear Parents,

We are sending the study buddy out today, and we’ll let you know the test date closer to time. Remember, just like with the last study

buddy, if you study with your child and you sign saying you have studied,

your child receives 3 Bonus Points if they bring back the study buddy on

the day of the test.

Thanks,

3rd Grade Teachers


These are science concepts I will need to understand:

  • Hurricanes form over warm water. Hurricanes are large storms that produce strong winds and lots of rain. When hurricanes reach land, they die down. Hurricanes can cause lots of damage to buildings, and they can cause floods. The hurricanes that hit the Southeast, start in the Atlantic Ocean or the Caribbean Sea.

  • Astronomy is the study of space. Astronomers use telescopes to be able to see objects in space that are too far away to see with your eyes.

  • The Kennedy Space Center, found at Cape Canaveral, Florida, is a place where astronauts work.

  • Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.

  • The sun is a giant star in the center of our solar system. The sun provides both light and heat to Earth.

  • There are 8 planets in our solar system. All of the planets revolve around the sun. However, they travel at different speeds. The planets are divided into two groups: the inner planets and the outer planets.




  • The inner planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. All of the inner planets have rocky surfaces, iron cores, and are terrestrial (which means Earth-like).

  • Mercury is very hot when facing the sun (800 degrees F) and very cold when facing away from the sun (-292 degrees F).

  • Venus has a very thick atmosphere that traps heat. The temperature on Venus stays about 840 degrees F.

  • Earth has a hydrosphere (water) that covers almost ¾ of the planet. Earth rotates once every 24 hours. Earth’s surface is always changing because of wind, water, earthquakes, hurricanes, storms, volcanoes, and people. Earth is 93 million miles away from the sun. Earth has an atmosphere (air) that protects the planet from the harmful rays of the sun. Our atmosphere is like a blanket that keeps us warm and keeps the water from escaping into space.

  • Mars is nicknamed the Red Planet. Mars is about the same size as Earth. There is a large canyon on Mars that makes the Grand Canyon look like a ditch in the road.

  • The outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The outer planets are gas giants and have rings. The gases that make up these planets are hydrogen and helium.

  • Jupiter is the largest planet. It is so big that nearly 1,000 Earths could fit inside of it. Jupiter has a large red spot that is really a large storm.

  • Saturn is known for its many rings that are made of dust and ice. Saturn is not as dense as water so that means it could float!

  • Uranus has an unusual tilt. It actually tilts on its side.

  • Neptune has rings made of ice particles. It is very cold on Neptune(-328 degrees F).

  • Our universe contains all the planets and the stars.

  • A group of stars is called a constellation. The Big Dipper is an example of a constellation.

  • The Earth rotates one time each day or 24 hours. When the Earth is facing the sun, it is daytime. When the Earth is facing away from the sun, it is nighttime. As the Earth rotates, shadows change.

  • The Earth is tilted on its axis so at different times of the year, some parts of the Earth are tilted towards the sun. This is the reason we have 4 seasons. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. So, different hemispheres have opposite seasons. For example, if the Northern Hemisphere is having summer, the Southern Hemisphere, is having winter.

  • The moon is a large chunk of rock that revolves around the Earth. We only see one side of the moon because the moon does not rotate. That is why the moon seems to change shape. The changing shapes are called phases. It takes about a month for the moon to cycle through these phases. (new moon, waxing crescent, 1st quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent, new moon)

  • Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to stand on the moon. His footprint is still there because there is no wind on the moon.

  • Gravity is the force that keeps our feet on the ground. The force of gravity is stronger on Earth than the moon.

  • The gravity of the Earth is what holds the moon in our orbit. The pull of gravity between the Earth and the moon is the reason for changing tides at the beach.



Some social studies concepts I will need to understand:

  • The Caribbean Sea is located between South America and North America.

  • The Gulf of Mexico is like a c-shaped body of sea water.

  • The Atlantic Ocean forms the Eastern boundary of the United States.

  • The Mississippi River is the oldest river in the United States.

  • The mountain chain that is located in the Southeast is called the Appalachian Mountains.

  • There are 12 states that are considered part of the Southeast. They include: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

  • Each state has a capital city. Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbia, South Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia; Frankfort, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

  • Florida is a peninsula. That means it is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides.

  • The Everglades is a National Park located at the southern tip of Florida.

  • Beaches are located where the land connects to the sea. Most states in the Southeast have beaches. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia all touch the Atlantic Ocean. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana all touch the Gulf of Mexico.

  • A large delta has formed where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. A delta is a great place for farming, but it can flood easily.

  • Choosing to live or to build along the coast is a risk. You may enjoy the beautiful beaches and warm sunshine, but you take a risk because of the hurricanes that often hit in these areas.

  • Back in history, there were people who moved here to make money. They raised large crops of cotton in the rich soil of the southeast. These large cotton farms were called plantations. In order to help do all of the hard work on the plantations, the owners often bought slaves from Africa to work.


Performances I will need to be able to do:

Can I locate all 12 Southeastern states on a map?

Can I locate the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Caribbean Sea on a map?

Can I sketch the phases of the moon?

Can I list the 8 planets in order?

Can I describe the effects of a hurricane?

Can I sketch a picture to show why we have daytime and nighttime on Earth?

Can I explain why we have seasons?

Can I compare the inner planets to the outer planets?

Can I name the capital cites of each 12 Southeastern states?


Remember the test date will be at a later time. This study

buddy is to help you KNOW what we are doing and to help you

SHARE in your child’s education. Studying is a key to success.

Thank you for supporting your child by studying with them. If your

child has the study buddy signed and at school on the day of the test

then they will receive 3 Bonus Points. (Sign me for +3) When you


_______________________________________ (parent signature)


sign, you are a witness that your child has studied at home. Good

Luck!

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