MS-ESS2-3 | Plate Tectonics · NYS standard · Grade 8 test questions
Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
Clarification statement: Examples of data could 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).
Assessment boundary: Paleomagnetic anomalies in oceanic and continental crust are not assessed.
Grade 8 Science Test Questions
Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-ESS2-3 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
Vocabulary
Terms from the Middle School Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 8 Science Test questions that assess it.
- analyze and interpret data
- continent
- continental crust
- continental shape
- continental shelf
- crust
- data
- evidence
- fossil
- fracture zone
- map
- mid-ocean ridge
- ocean structure
- oceanic crust
- paleomagnetic anomaly
- plate
- plate motion
- plate tectonics
- ridge
- rock
- seafloor
- seafloor structure
- tectonic plate
- trench
- animal fossil – Spring 2026
- claim – Spring 2026, Spring 2025, Spring 2024
- climate zone – Spring 2026
- coastline – Spring 2025
- diagram – Spring 2025
- distribution – Spring 2026
- elevation – Spring 2024
- equator – Spring 2026, Sample
- fault – Spring 2024
- geologic structure – Spring 2025
- geoscience process – Spring 2025
- inference – Spring 2025, Sample
- land plant – Spring 2026
- landmass – Spring 2026
- mammal-like reptile – Spring 2026
- marine fossil – Sample
- model – Spring 2026, Spring 2024
- mountain range – Spring 2025, Spring 2024
- ocean – Spring 2025, Sample
- ocean floor – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
- plant fossil – Spring 2026
- plate boundary – Spring 2025
- rate of movement – Spring 2025
- rock strata – Spring 2026
- seamount – Spring 2025
- sediment – Spring 2024
- subcontinent – Spring 2025
- surface feature – Spring 2025
- tectonic plate motion – Spring 2024
- tectonic process – Sample
- topography – Spring 2024
- uplift – Spring 2024
- valley – Spring 2024
- continental drift – implied by "Earth’s plates have moved great distances, collided, and spread apart"
- Pangaea – implied by "Maps of ancient land and water patterns" and "the shapes of the continents (including continental shelves)"
- convergent, divergent and transform plate boundaries – implied by "collided, and spread apart" and "ridges, fracture zones, and trenches"
- seafloor spreading – implied by "seafloor structures" and "ridges" as evidence of plates that "spread apart"
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-ESS2-3 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-ESS2-3.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation MS-ESS2-3 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena.
- 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.
- Patterns
- Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems.