ESS2: Earth’s Systems
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| ESS2: Earth’s Systems |
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ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems
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ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions
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ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
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ESS2.D: Weather and Climate
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ESS2.E: Biogeology
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Content aligned with middle school ESS2
Content aligned with high school ESS2
In middle school, students develop an understanding of the disciplinary core ideas in the earth and space science domain. The middle school performance expectations build on the elementary performance expectations, as well as on students’ understanding of life and physical science phenomena. In ESS2: Earth’s Systems, performance expectations are designed for students to create an understanding of how and why the materials in and on the surface of the earth change over time. A wide range of concepts are explored under the larger umbrella of how matter and energy flow and cycle through environmental systems.
In high school, students continue to develop and refine their understanding of the disciplinary core ideas in the earth and space science domain. The high school performance expectations are meant to expand on the middle school performance expectations. The high school performance expectations cover fundamental concepts of Earth and space science, while leaving room for more expanded and in-depth study in upper level high school courses. As in middle school, Earth and space sciences concepts are also important for understanding life and physical science phenomena. Performance expectations in high school ESS2: Earth’s Systems, call on students to understand how and why the earth is constantly changing. Students are expected to use models of feedback systems to demonstrate their understanding of how interactions on and below the earth’s surface create and destroy land formations, cycle matter and energy, and influence weather and climate.
