Benchmark 4B
The Physical Setting: The Earth
Grades 9-12, page 70

Life is adapted to conditions on the earth, including the force of gravity that enables the planet to retain an adequate atmosphere, and an intensity of radiation from the sun that allows water to cycle between liquid and vapor.
 

NSES Content Standard D 
Earth and Space Science: Structure of the Earth system 
Grades 5-8, page 160 
Water, which covers the majority of the earth's surface, circulates through the crust, oceans, and atmosphere in what is known as the "water cycle." Water evaporates from the earth's surface, rises and cools as it moves to higher elevations, condenses as rain or snow, and falls to the surface where it collects in lakes, oceans, soil, and in rocks underground. 

NSES Content Standard D 
Earth and Space Science: Earth in the Solar System 
Grades 5-8, page 161 
The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the earth's surface, such as growth of plants, winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle. Seasons result from variations in the amount of the sun's energy hitting the surface, due to the tilt of the earth's rotation on its axis and the length of the day.