SCI-MS.ESS2.03

Earth Space Science Logo8th Grade (SCI) Earth Space Science Standards
[ESS2] Earth’s Systems

SCI-MS.ESS2.03 Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of past plate motions.

Clarification Statement: Examples of data include similarities of rock and fossil types on different continents, the shapes of the continents (including continental shelves), and the locations of ocean structures (such as ridges, fracture zones, and trenches).
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth Tectonic processes continually generate new ocean sea floor at ridges and destroy old sea floor at trenches (secondary).
ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions Maps of ancient land and water patterns, based on investigations of rocks and fossils, make clear how Earth’s plates have moved great distances, collided, and spread apart


Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

  • I can identify and describe the compositional and structural (physical) layers of the Earth.
  • I can identify the three forces that cause tectonic plate movement (i.e. convection, slab pull, ridge push).
  • I can identify the three types of plate boundaries and describe the plate movement associated with each.
  • I can provide evidence that supports the theory of continental drift.

Reasoning Targets

  • I can

Skills (Performance) Targets

  • I can

Product Targets

  • I can

Proficiency Scale

The Student can ...
1 Beginning
... with help, demonstrate a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes (Score 2.0 content) and some of the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).
  • descriptors
2 Developing
... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).
  • identify and describe the compositional and structural (physical) layers of the Earth.
  • identify the three forces that cause tectonic plate movement (i.e. convection, slab pull, ridge push).
  • identify the three types of plate boundaries and describe the plate movement associated with each.
3 Proficient
“The Standard.”
... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
  • provide evidence that supports the theory of continental drift.
4 Advanced
... demonstrate in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations.
  • descriptors

Resources

Vocabulary

  • words
  • list

Websites

  • Title of website with a URL to open in a new window

» 8th Grade Earth Science