← Home

Finding patterns in data

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Earth's Systems|Ages 9—10|ID: mt_-G6erQvLig

Analyse and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth's features, recognising that many features result from processes that occur over long periods

Mastery Evidence

  • Use a map to identify patterns in the location of mountains, rivers, lakes, and other features
  • Describe patterns observed (e.g. mountains in chains, rivers flow from high to low ground)
  • Explain that Earth's features result from processes like erosion, volcanic activity, and plate movement over long periods

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] look at a map and notice patterns like mountains running in lines, rivers flowing to the sea, or deserts clustered near the equator?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

4-ESS2-2Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5codes only
Standard code — full text not included in this dataset.

Prerequisites4

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Rock layers and Earth's history soft

    Interpreting maps of Earth surface features is enriched by understanding cross-section views of geological strata and layers

    • 3-D shapes (age 9+) soft

      Interpreting cross-section diagrams of Earth builds on the skill of identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations

      • 2-D shapes (age 7+) hard

        Y3 drawing 2D and making 3D shapes is prerequisite to identifying 3D from 2D representations

        • Edges, vertices, and faces hard

          Making/describing 3-D shapes requires knowing their properties (edges, vertices, faces)

          • 3-D shapes hard

            Describing 3-D properties (edges, vertices, faces) requires knowing the shapes first

          • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

            Counting edges, vertices, and faces is reinforced by analysing nets where each face is visible as a separate 2-D shape

          • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

            Formal property description extends informal analysis of shapes

            • 2-D shapes hard

              Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

            • 3-D shapes hard

              Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

        • 2-D shapes (age 6+) hard

          Drawing 2-D shapes requires knowing their properties

          • Angles in triangles (age 6+) soft

            Understanding defining attributes supports describing shape properties formally

            • 2-D shapes hard

              Distinguishing defining vs non-defining attributes requires knowing common 2-D shape names first

            • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

              Identifying defining attributes builds on informal analysis and comparison of shapes

              • 2-D shapes hard

                Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

              • 3-D shapes hard

                Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

          • 2-D shapes hard

            Describing properties of 2-D shapes (sides, symmetry) requires knowing the shapes first

          • 3-D shapes (age 5+) hard

            Formal property description extends informal analysis of sides and vertices

            • 2-D shapes hard

              Analysing and comparing shapes requires being able to name them first

            • 3-D shapes hard

              Analysing 3-D shapes requires recognising and naming them

        • Nets of 3-D Shapes soft

          Drawing 2-D shapes and making 3-D shapes from materials is supported by being able to sketch and interpret nets

      • Nets of 3-D Shapes hard

        Identifying 3-D shapes from 2-D representations requires understanding the relationship between a net and its solid

  • Types of rocks hard

    Interpreting patterns of Earth's geological features requires rock type and erosion vocabulary

  • Shapes of land and water hard

    Must model landforms and water bodies before analysing map patterns of Earth's features

    • Seasonal changes soft

      Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features

  • Erosion and weathering soft

    Understanding weathering/erosion helps explain patterns in Earth's features

    • Types of rocks hard

      Measuring weathering and erosion rates requires 'weathering', 'erosion', and 'deposition' vocabulary

    • Preventing Erosion hard

      Must understand erosion prevention before measuring weathering/erosion effects systematically

    • Properties of materials soft

      Rock properties knowledge supports understanding how weathering breaks down different rocks

Unlocks1