MS-ESS2-6

Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Clarification statement: Emphasis is on how patterns vary by latitude, altitude, and geographic land distribution. Emphasis is on the sunlight-driven latitudinal banding causing differences in density that create convection currents in the atmosphere, the Coriolis effect, and resulting prevailing winds; emphasis of ocean circulation is on the transfer of heat by the global ocean convection cycle, which is constrained by the Coriolis effect and the coastlines of continents. Examples of models could include diagrams, maps and globes, or digital representations.

Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include the dynamics of the Coriolis effect.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-ESS2-6.

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Assessment

What assessment of MS-ESS2-6 might look like on a NY state exam.

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NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-ESS2-6 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and engineering practices

Disciplinary core ideas

Crosscutting concepts

Connections to Other Standards

MS-ESS2-6 connections to ELA, math, and other science standards as outlined by the NYS Education Department:

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P-8 | MS. Weather and Climate