Difference between revisions of "HS-ESS1-6"
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(Add reference tables to Resources (2026 Rev. Edition ESS reference tables)) |
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{{Navlinks|HS-ESS1-5|HS-ESS1-7|← HS-ESS1-5|HS-ESS1-7 →}} | {{Navlinks|HS-ESS1-5|HS-ESS1-7|← HS-ESS1-5|HS-ESS1-7 →}} | ||
{{learningstandard | {{learningstandard | ||
| + | | topic = Formation and Early History of Earth | ||
| ls = Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary | | ls = Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary | ||
surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history. | surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history. | ||
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| ab = | | ab = | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == {{Referencetablesheading}} == | ||
| + | Relevant reference tables: | ||
| + | *[[Geologically Important Radioactive Elements Used for Radiometric Dating| Geologically Important Radioactive Elements Used for Radiometric Dating]] | ||
| + | |||
== {{Assessmentheading}} == | == {{Assessmentheading}} == | ||
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! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Question | ! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Question | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2026 Earth and Space Science Exam|August 2026]] | + | | rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2026 Earth and Space Science Exam|August 2026 Earth and Space Sciences Regents]] |
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event|Chesapeake Bay Impact Event]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event|Chesapeake Bay Impact Event]] | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|Question 5]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|Question 5]] | ||
| Line 26: | Line 31: | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q4|Question 8]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q4|Question 8]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | rowspan="4" style="background-color:white;" | [[January 2026 Earth and Space Science Exam|January 2026]] | + | | rowspan="4" style="background-color:white;" | [[January 2026 Earth and Space Science Exam|January 2026 Earth and Space Sciences Regents]] |
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems|Evolution of Early Earth Systems]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems|Evolution of Early Earth Systems]] | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Question 11]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Question 11]] | ||
| Line 39: | Line 44: | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Bennu#q2|Question 34]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Bennu#q2|Question 34]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | rowspan="5" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2025 Earth and Space Science Exam|August 2025]] | + | | rowspan="5" style="background-color:white;" | [[August 2025 Earth and Space Science Exam|August 2025 Earth and Space Sciences Regents]] |
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?|How Did Earth Get Its Water?]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?|How Did Earth Get Its Water?]] | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Question 21]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Question 21]] | ||
| Line 55: | Line 60: | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q5|Question 45]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q5|Question 45]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[June 2025 Earth and Space Science Exam|June 2025]] | + | | rowspan="2" style="background-color:white;" | [[June 2025 Earth and Space Science Exam|June 2025 Earth and Space Sciences Regents]] |
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System|The Origin of Our Solar System]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System|The Origin of Our Solar System]] | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|Question 26]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|Question 26]] | ||
| Line 62: | Line 67: | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q3|Question 28]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q3|Question 28]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[Earth and Space Science Sample Questions| | + | | rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[Earth and Space Science Sample Questions|Earth and Space Sciences sample clusters]] (Fall 2024) |
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon|Theia and the Moon]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon|Theia and the Moon]] | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|Question 2]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|Question 2]] | ||
| Line 72: | Line 77: | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|Question 5]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|Question 5]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Earth and Space Science Sample Questions| | + | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Earth and Space Science Sample Questions|Earth and Space Sciences sample clusters]] (Spring 2024) |
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics|Plate Tectonics]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics|Plate Tectonics]] | ||
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|Question 2]] | | style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|Question 2]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Vocabulary == | ||
| + | Terms from the [[Earth & Space Science Glossary]] that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="vocab-subhead">From this standard</div> | ||
| + | <div class="vocab-list" style="column-width:14em;"> | ||
| + | * absolute ages | ||
| + | * ancient Earth materials | ||
| + | * asteroids | ||
| + | * composition | ||
| + | * cratering record | ||
| + | * Earth | ||
| + | * Earth’s formation | ||
| + | * erosion | ||
| + | * exponential decay law | ||
| + | * geologic processes | ||
| + | * half-life | ||
| + | * meteorites | ||
| + | * minerals | ||
| + | * model | ||
| + | * moon rocks | ||
| + | * observation and experiment | ||
| + | * planetary surfaces | ||
| + | * plate tectonics | ||
| + | * radioactive decay | ||
| + | * radiometric dating | ||
| + | * rock record | ||
| + | * scientific reasoning | ||
| + | * scientific theory | ||
| + | * solar system | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="vocab-subhead">From released exam questions</div> | ||
| + | <div class="vocab-list" style="column-width:20em;"> | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q3|absolute dating]] – June 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|accretion]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|arthropod]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|atmosphere]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Earth-Moon History#q5|basin]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|burial]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|carbon]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Doggerland#q3|carbon-14]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|central uplift]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|cladogram]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Earth-Moon History#q5|collision]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|comets]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|common ancestor]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|continental shelf]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Earth-Moon History#q5|crust]] – Aug 2025, [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|crystal lattice]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q3|decay product]] – June 2025, [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q3|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|density]] – June 2025, [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|deposition]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|deuterium]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio (D/H)]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|drill core]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|dropstones]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Earth’s early oceans]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Bennu#q2|Earth’s orbit]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|Earth’s surface]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|earthquakes]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|ejecta]] – Aug 2026, [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|elements]] – Jan 2026, [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Aug 2025]], [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q3|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|eolian]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Equator]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|eurypterid]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|felsic]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|fossils]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|fresh water]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|geologic history]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|geologic periods]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q3|giant impact hypothesis]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|glacial ice]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|glaciers]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|hardness]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|hydrogen]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|ice]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|ice ages]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Moons of Pluto#q5|ice volcanoes]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|igneous rock]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|impact craters]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|index fossils]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q2|isotope]] – Aug 2026, [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Jan 2026]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|Jovian planets]] – June 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|late heavy bombardment]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|lava flows]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|magma]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Earth-Moon History#q5|mare]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Bennu#q2|mass extinction]] – Jan 2026, [[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q3|Aug 2025]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|melting temperature]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Moons of Pluto#q5|methane]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|molten rock]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Moons of Pluto#q5|moon]] – Jan 2026, [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Aug 2025]], [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|June 2025]], [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|mountain]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|observations]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|ocean]] – Aug 2026, [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Aug 2025]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Bennu#q2|oxygen]] – Jan 2026, [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Aug 2025]], [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q2|parent isotope]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|period of revolution]] – June 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|planets]] – Aug 2025, [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|June 2025]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q4|Principle of Superposition]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|relative ages]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|river]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|satellites]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|sea level]] – Aug 2026, [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Jan 2026]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|sediment]] – Aug 2026, [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Jan 2026]], [[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|sedimentary rock]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|slump blocks]] – Aug 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Doggerland#q3|soil]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|solar wind]] – Aug 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:Bennu#q2|stromatolites]] – Jan 2026 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|terrestrial planets]] – June 2025 | ||
| + | * [[Questions:The Moons of Pluto#q5|volcano]] – Jan 2026, [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|Sample 2024]] | ||
| + | * [[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|weathering]] – Sample 2024 | ||
| + | </div> | ||
{{PerformanceLevel}} | {{PerformanceLevel}} | ||
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| Level4 = Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth's formation and early history. | | Level4 = Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth's formation and early history. | ||
| Level3 = Using evidence and scientific reasoning from ancient Earth materials, or meteorites, or other planetary surfaces, construct an account of Earth's formation and/or early history, <b><u>or</u></b> use evidence from radiometric dating of rocks and/or other materials to construct an account of the formation or early history of objects in the solar system. | | Level3 = Using evidence and scientific reasoning from ancient Earth materials, or meteorites, or other planetary surfaces, construct an account of Earth's formation and/or early history, <b><u>or</u></b> use evidence from radiometric dating of rocks and/or other materials to construct an account of the formation or early history of objects in the solar system. | ||
| + | | Example3 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q3|June 2025 · Q3]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q3|June 2025 · Q28]]</span> | ||
| Level2 = Using evidence from ancient Earth materials, or meteorites, or other planetary surfaces (other objects in the solar system) to support/refute a given explanation of Earth's formation and/or early history, <b><u>or</u></b> use evidence from radiometric dating to support/refute a given explanation of the formation of a solar system object. | | Level2 = Using evidence from ancient Earth materials, or meteorites, or other planetary surfaces (other objects in the solar system) to support/refute a given explanation of Earth's formation and/or early history, <b><u>or</u></b> use evidence from radiometric dating to support/refute a given explanation of the formation of a solar system object. | ||
| + | | Example2 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q2|Aug 2026 · Q6]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q4|Aug 2026 · Q8]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Earth-Moon History#q5|Aug 2025 · Q35]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:How Did Earth Get Its Water?#q1|Aug 2025 · Q21]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:ESS Plate Tectonics#q2|June 2025 · Q2]]</span> | ||
| Level1 = Identify the evidence (radiometric dating, impact cratering), from those provided, that supports/refutes a given explanation of Earth's or another planetary surface's formation or early history. | | Level1 = Identify the evidence (radiometric dating, impact cratering), from those provided, that supports/refutes a given explanation of Earth's or another planetary surface's formation or early history. | ||
| + | | Example1 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Chesapeake Bay Impact Event#q1|Aug 2026 · Q5]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Bennu#q2|Jan 2026 · Q34]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Doggerland#q3|Jan 2026 · Q26]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:Evolution of Early Earth Systems#q2|Jan 2026 · Q11]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:The Moons of Pluto#q5|Jan 2026 · Q23]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q1|Aug 2025 · Q41]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q3|Aug 2025 · Q43]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:New York State Fossils of Note#q5|Aug 2025 · Q45]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q2|June 2025 · Q2]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:ESS Theia and the Moon#q5|June 2025 · Q5]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ess">[[Questions:The Origin of Our Solar System#q1|June 2025 · Q26]]</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
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| − | |||
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== {{Dimensionsheading}} == | == {{Dimensionsheading}} == | ||
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| TOPIC = HS. History of the Earth | | TOPIC = HS. History of the Earth | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 09:46, 18 October 2026
Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on using available evidence within the solar system to reconstruct the early history of Earth, which formed along with the rest of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Examples of evidence include the absolute ages of ancient materials (obtained by radiometric dating of meteorites, moon rocks, and Earth’s rocks and minerals), the sizes and compositions of solar system objects, and the impact cratering record of planetary surfaces.
Reference Tables
Relevant reference tables:
Regents Exam Questions
Released New York State Regents exam questions that assess HS-ESS1-6 are listed here by exam and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
Vocabulary
Terms from the Earth & Space Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it.
From this standard
- absolute ages
- ancient Earth materials
- asteroids
- composition
- cratering record
- Earth
- Earth’s formation
- erosion
- exponential decay law
- geologic processes
- half-life
- meteorites
- minerals
- model
- moon rocks
- observation and experiment
- planetary surfaces
- plate tectonics
- radioactive decay
- radiometric dating
- rock record
- scientific reasoning
- scientific theory
- solar system
From released exam questions
- absolute dating – June 2025
- accretion – Sample 2024
- arthropod – Aug 2025
- atmosphere – Aug 2025
- basin – Aug 2025
- burial – Aug 2026
- carbon – Jan 2026
- carbon-14 – Jan 2026
- central uplift – Aug 2026
- cladogram – Aug 2025
- collision – Aug 2025
- comets – Aug 2025
- common ancestor – Aug 2025
- continental shelf – Aug 2026
- crust – Aug 2025, Sample 2024
- crystal lattice – Sample 2024
- decay product – June 2025, Sample 2024
- density – June 2025, Sample 2024
- deposition – Aug 2026
- deuterium – Aug 2025
- deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio (D/H) – Aug 2025
- drill core – Aug 2026
- dropstones – Jan 2026
- Earth’s early oceans – Aug 2025
- Earth’s orbit – Jan 2026
- Earth’s surface – Sample 2024
- earthquakes – Sample 2024
- ejecta – Aug 2026, Sample 2024
- elements – Jan 2026, Aug 2025, Sample 2024
- eolian – Sample 2024
- Equator – Jan 2026
- eurypterid – Aug 2025
- felsic – Sample 2024
- fossils – Aug 2025
- fresh water – Aug 2025
- geologic history – Jan 2026
- geologic periods – Aug 2025
- giant impact hypothesis – Sample 2024
- glacial ice – Jan 2026
- glaciers – Jan 2026
- hardness – Sample 2024
- hydrogen – Aug 2025
- ice – Jan 2026
- ice ages – Jan 2026
- ice volcanoes – Jan 2026
- igneous rock – Sample 2024
- impact craters – Sample 2024
- index fossils – Jan 2026
- isotope – Aug 2026, Jan 2026
- Jovian planets – June 2025
- late heavy bombardment – Sample 2024
- lava flows – Sample 2024
- magma – Sample 2024
- mare – Aug 2025
- mass extinction – Jan 2026, Aug 2025
- melting temperature – Sample 2024
- methane – Jan 2026
- molten rock – Sample 2024
- moon – Jan 2026, Aug 2025, June 2025, Sample 2024
- mountain – Sample 2024
- observations – Sample 2024
- ocean – Aug 2026, Aug 2025
- oxygen – Jan 2026, Aug 2025, Sample 2024
- parent isotope – Aug 2026
- period of revolution – June 2025
- planets – Aug 2025, June 2025
- Principle of Superposition – Aug 2026
- relative ages – Sample 2024
- river – Sample 2024
- satellites – Aug 2025
- sea level – Aug 2026, Jan 2026
- sediment – Aug 2026, Jan 2026, Sample 2024
- sedimentary rock – Jan 2026
- slump blocks – Aug 2026
- soil – Jan 2026
- solar wind – Aug 2025
- stromatolites – Jan 2026
- terrestrial planets – June 2025
- volcano – Jan 2026, Sample 2024
- weathering – Sample 2024
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Regents exam question on HS-ESS1-6 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Level 1: Identify the evidence (radiometric dating, impact cratering), from those provided, that supports/refutes a given explanation of Earth's or another planetary surface's formation or early history. Aug 2026 · Q5 Jan 2026 · Q34 Jan 2026 · Q26 Jan 2026 · Q11 Jan 2026 · Q23 Aug 2025 · Q41 Aug 2025 · Q43 Aug 2025 · Q45 June 2025 · Q2 June 2025 · Q5 June 2025 · Q26
Level 2: Using evidence from ancient Earth materials, or meteorites, or other planetary surfaces (other objects in the solar system) to support/refute a given explanation of Earth's formation and/or early history, or use evidence from radiometric dating to support/refute a given explanation of the formation of a solar system object. Aug 2026 · Q6 Aug 2026 · Q8 Aug 2025 · Q35 Aug 2025 · Q21 June 2025 · Q2
Level 3: Using evidence and scientific reasoning from ancient Earth materials, or meteorites, or other planetary surfaces, construct an account of Earth's formation and/or early history, or use evidence from radiometric dating of rocks and/or other materials to construct an account of the formation or early history of objects in the solar system. June 2025 · Q3 June 2025 · Q28
Level 4: Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth's formation and early history.
Level 5: Analyze empirical evidence from multiple sources, to construct an explanation of Earth's formation and early history, based upon the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-ESS1-6 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
Science and Engineering Practices
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions: Apply scientific reasoning to link evidence to the claims to assess the extent to which the reasoning and data support the explanation or conclusion.
- Science models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena: A scientific theory is a substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment and the science community validates each theory before it is accepted. If new evidence is discovered that the theory does not accommodate, the theory is generally modified in light of this new evidence.
- Science models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena: Models, mechanisms, and explanations collectively serve as tools in the development of a scientific theory.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
- The history of planet Earth: Although active geologic processes, such as plate tectonics and erosion, have destroyed or altered most of the very early rock record on Earth, other objects in the solar system, such as lunar rocks, asteroids, and meteorites, have changed little over billions of years. Studying these objects can provide information about Earth’s formation and early history.
- Nuclear processes: Spontaneous radioactive decay follows a characteristic exponential decay law allowing an element’s half-life to be used for radiometric dating of rocks and other materials.
Crosscutting Concepts
- Stability and change: Much of science deals with constructing explanations of how things change and how they remain stable.
Page contributors: Conrad Richman, Caroline Leonard