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MS-ESS1

SCI-MS.ESS1

BPSS-SCI logo DCI Earth Space Science ESS1

Earth's Place in the Universe

Performance Expectations

ESS1 helps students formulate an answer to questions such as:

  • What is Earth’s place in the universe?
  • What makes up our solar system?
  • How can the motion of Earth explain seasons and eclipses?
  • How do people figure out that the Earth and life on Earth have changed through time?

The ESS1 Disciplinary Core Idea is broken down into three sub-ideas: the universe and its stars, Earth and the solar system and the history of planet Earth . Students examine the Earth’s place in relation to the solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, and universe. There is a strong emphasis on a systems approach, using models of the solar system to explain astronomical and other observations of the cyclic patterns of eclipses, tides, and seasons. There is also a strong connection to engineering through the instruments and technologies that have allowed us to explore the objects in our solar system and obtain the data that support the theories that explain the formation and evolution of the universe . Students examine geoscience data in order to understand the processes and events in Earth’s history.
In the ESS1 performance expectations, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in developing and using models, analyzing data,and constructing explanations and designing solutions; and to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core ideas.

Calculation Method for DCI

Disciplinary Core Ideas are larger groups of related Performance Expectations. So the Disciplinary Core Idea Grade is a calculation of all the related Performance Expectations. So click on the Performance Expectation name below each Disciplinary Core Idea to access the learning targets and proficiency scales for each Disciplinary Core Idea's related Performance Expectations.

SCI-MS.ESS1.01

Earth Space Science Logo8th Grade (SCI) Earth Space Science Standards
[ESS1] Earth’s Place in the Universe

SCI-MS.ESS1.01 Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.

Clarification Statement: Examples of models can be physical, graphical, or conceptual.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models.
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System This model of the solar system can explain eclipses of the sun and the moon. Earth’s spin axis is fixed in direction over the short-term but tilted relative to its orbit around the sun. The seasons are a result of that tilt and are caused by the differential intensity of sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year.

Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

  • I can define a day, month, and year according to the movements of the sun, moon, and earth.
  • I can identify the phases of the moon.
  • I can label a solar eclipse and lunar eclipse.
  • I can identify the two primary causes for Earth’s seasons.
  • I can define rotation and revolution.

Reasoning Targets

  • I can predict the phase of the moon based on its location relative to the sun and the earth.
  • I can explain why a solar eclipse does not occur every new moon.

Skills (Performance) Targets

  • I can

Product Targets

  • I can

Proficiency Scale

The Student ...
1 Beginning
... with help, demonstrates 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
... demonstrates 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).
  • predict the phase of the moon based on its location relative to the sun and the earth.
  • explain why a solar eclipse does not occur every new moon
3 Proficient
“The Standard.”
... demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
  • define a day, month, and year according to the movements of the sun, moon, and earth.
  • identify the phases of the moon.
  • label a solar eclipse and lunar eclipse.
  • identify the two primary causes for Earth’s seasons.
  • define rotation and revolution.
4 Advanced
... demonstrates 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

SCI-MS.ESS1.02

Earth Space Science Logo8th Grade (SCI) Earth Space Science Standards
[ESS1] Earth’s Place in the Universe

SCI-MS.ESS1.02 Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system..

Clarification Statement: Emphasis for the model is on gravity as the force that holds together the solar system and Milky Way galaxy and controls orbital motions within them. Examples of models can be physical (such as the analogy of distance along a football field or computer visualizations of elliptical orbits) or conceptual (such as mathematical proportions relative to the size of familiar objects such as students’ school or state).
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars Earth and its solar system are part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is one of many galaxies in the universe.
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System The solar system consists of the sun and a collection of objects, including planets, their moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the sun by its gravitational pull on them. The solar system appears to have formed from a disk of dust and gas, drawn together by gravity.

Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

  • I can describe the shape of orbits.
  • I can describe the change in gravitational force as mass and distance change.

Reasoning Targets

  • I can explain why planets revolve faster as they approach the sun. 

Skills (Performance) Targets

  • I can relate a planet’s period of revolution to its distance from the sun.

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).
  • describe the shape of orbits.
  • describe the change in gravitational force as mass and distance change. 
3 Proficient
“The Standard.”
... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
  • explain why planets revolve faster as they approach the sun.
  • relate a planet’s period of revolution to its distance from the sun.
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

SCI-MS.ESS1.03

Earth Space Science Logo8th Grade (SCI) Earth Space Science Standards
[ESS1] Earth’s Place in the Universe

SCI-MS.ESS1.03 Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the analysis of data from Earth-based instruments, space-based telescopes, and spacecraft to determine similarities and differences among solar system objects. Examples of scale properties include the sizes of an object’s layers (such as crust and atmosphere), surface features (such as volcanoes), and orbital radius. Examples of data include statistical information, drawings and photographs, and models.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System The solar system consists of the sun and a collection of objects, including planets, their moons, and asteroids that are held in orbit around the sun by its gravitational pull on them.

Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

  • I can identify the appropriate unit for measuring distances in space.
  • I can list celestial objects in the correct order by size.

Reasoning Targets

  • I can justify or defend my choice for the appropriate unit for measuring distances in space.

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 the appropriate unit for measuring distances in space.
  • list celestial objects in the correct order by size.
3 Proficient
“The Standard.”
... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
  • justify or defend my choice for the appropriate unit for measuring distances in space.
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

SCI-MS.ESS1.04

Earth Space Science Logo8th Grade (SCI) Earth Space Science Standards
[ESS1] Earth’s Place in the Universe

SCI-MS.ESS1.04 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth's 4.6-billion-year-old history.

Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on how analyses of rock formations and the fossils they contain are used to establish relative ages of major events in Earth’s history. Examples of Earth’s major events could range from being very recent (such as the last Ice Age or the earliest fossils of Homo sapiens) to very old (such as the formation of Earth or the earliest evidence of life). Examples can include the formation of mountain chains and ocean basins, the evolution or extinction of particular living organisms, or significant volcanic eruptions.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth The geologic time scale interpreted from rock strata provides a way to organize Earth’s history. Analyses of rock strata and the fossil record provide only relative dates, not an absolute scale.

Student Learning Targets:

Knowledge Targets

  • I can provide reasons for the divisions of geologic time.
  • I can compare and contrast relative and absolute dating.

Reasoning Targets

  • I can

Skills (Performance) Targets

  • I can use index fossils to determine the relative age of a rock layer.
  • I can use the law of superposition to determine the relative age of a rock layer.

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).
  • provide reasons for the divisions of geologic time.
  • compare and contrast relative and absolute dating.
3 Proficient
“The Standard.”
... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
  • use index fossils to determine the relative age of a rock layer.
  • use the law of superposition to determine the relative age of a rock layer.
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