Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
Plate Tectonics (ESS2.B - Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions)
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) for plate tectonics:
● ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions
○ Earth's lithosphere is divided into plates that move over the asthenosphere. This movement causes various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain formation, and the creation and destruction of ocean basins.
○ The theory of plate tectonics explains how Earth’s surface is dynamic, with plates moving, interacting, and recycling through subduction and seafloor spreading.
Relevant NGSS Standards:
● 3-ESS2-1: Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of Earth’s features.
○ Example: Represent and analyze data showing the distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges related to plate tectonics.
● 4-ESS2-2: Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.
○ Example: Students could analyze maps showing plate boundaries and the geological features (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain ranges) associated with them.
● 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 develop models of the plate tectonics process, explaining the movement of lithospheric plates and how this contributes to geological features like mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
● MS-ESS2-4: Use a model to describe the effects of Earth’s internal structure on surface processes.
○ Example: Use models to illustrate how Earth's interior (e.g., mantle convection) drives the movement of tectonic plates and the resulting surface features.
● HS-ESS2-3: Analyze data to provide evidence for the role of plate tectonics in the formation of Earth's surface features.
○ Example: High school students analyze geological evidence (rock layers, fault lines, and mountain ranges) to understand the process of plate movement and its role in shaping Earth's surface.
● HS-ESS2-6: Develop and use a model of Earth’s interior and explain how plate tectonics causes the movement of tectonic plates.
○ Example: High school students use models to explain how the heat from Earth’s core causes mantle convection, which, in turn, moves the tectonic plates.
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.
