NSES Content Standard B  Physical Science: Transfer of energy Grades 5-8, page 155 The sun is a major source of energy for changes on the earth's surface. The sun loses energy by emitting light. A tiny fraction of that light reaches the earth, transferring energy from the sun to the earth. The sun's energy arrives as light with a range of wavelengths, consisting of visible light, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation.

 
Benchmark 4F The Physical Setting: Motion
Grades 6-8, page 90
Light from the sun is made up of a mixture of many different colors of light, even though to the eye the light looks almost white. Other things that give off or reflect light have a different mix of colors.

Benchmark 4F The Physical Setting: Motion
Grades 6-8, page 90
Human eyes respond to only a narrow range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation--visible light. Differences of wavelength within that range are perceived as differences in color.

Benchmark 8C The Designed World: Energy Sources and Use
Grades 3-5, page 193
The sun is the main source of energy for people and they use it in various ways. The energy in fossil fuels such as oil and coal comes from the sun indirectly, because the fuels come from plants that grew long ago.