Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
Rock Cycle (ESS2.A - Earth's Materials and Systems)
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) for the rock cycle:
● ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems
○ The rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks between three main types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic, driven by processes such as cooling, weathering, pressure, and heat.
○ These processes occur on a timescale ranging from minutes to millions of years and are part of the dynamic system that shapes Earth's surface.
Relevant NGSS Standards:
● 3-ESS2-1: Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of Earth’s features.
○ Example: Students can explore patterns in the types of rocks found in different locations on Earth to understand the rock cycle.
● 4-ESS2-1: Make observations and/or measurements of Earth’s features to identify patterns.
○ Example: Students investigate how different types of rocks form, using observation and measurements of rock features.
● MS-ESS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
○ Example: Middle school students can create a model to explain how rocks are transformed through processes such as weathering, sedimentation, and metamorphism.
● HS-ESS2-2: Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks to provide evidence of past plate motions.
○ Example: High school students use fossil and rock evidence to understand the movement of Earth's plates and the effects on the rock cycle.
Key Crosscutting Concepts:
● Patterns: Recognizing patterns in geological data (e.g., distribution of rock types, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.) helps us understand the processes of the rock cycle and plate tectonics.
● Cause and Effect: Understanding how the movement of tectonic plates causes the formation of geological features and drives the rock cycle.
● Energy and Matter: Energy from Earth’s internal processes drives the movement of tectonic plates and the cycling of materials through the rock cycle.
