Difference between revisions of "MS-ESS2-3"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:MS-ESS2-3 {{!}} Plate Tectonics}}
 
 
{{Navlinks|MS-ESS2-2|MS-ESS2-1|← MS-ESS2-2|MS-ESS2-1 →}}
 
{{Navlinks|MS-ESS2-2|MS-ESS2-1|← MS-ESS2-2|MS-ESS2-1 →}}
 
{{learningstandard
 
{{learningstandard
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| topic = Plate Tectonics
 
| ls = Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor
 
| ls = Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor
 
structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
 
structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
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! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Question
 
! style="padding: 0.5em 1.5em;" | Question
 
|-
 
|-
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| rowspan="4" style="background-color:white;" | [[Spring 2026 Grade 8 Science Test|Spring 2026]]
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| rowspan="4" style="background-color:white;" | [[Spring 2026 Grade 8 Science Test|Spring 2026 Grade 8 Test]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Plate Tectonics|Plate Tectonics]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Plate Tectonics|Plate Tectonics]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q1|Question 34]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q1|Question 34]]
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| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q4|Question 37]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q4|Question 37]]
 
|-
 
|-
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| rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[Spring 2025 Grade 8 Science Test|Spring 2025]]
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| rowspan="3" style="background-color:white;" | [[Spring 2025 Grade 8 Science Test|Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates|Earth's Tectonic Plates]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates|Earth's Tectonic Plates]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|Question 28]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|Question 28]]
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| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q4|Question 31]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q4|Question 31]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Spring 2024 Grade 8 Science Test|Spring 2024]]
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| style="background-color:white;" | [[Spring 2024 Grade 8 Science Test|Spring 2024 Grade 8 Test]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Death Valley|Death Valley]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Death Valley|Death Valley]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|Question 35]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|Question 35]]
 
|-
 
|-
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| style="background-color:white;" | [[Middle School Sample Question Clusters|Sample clusters]]
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| style="background-color:white;" | [[Middle School Sample Question Clusters|Middle school sample clusters]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State|Fossil Parks in New York State]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State|Fossil Parks in New York State]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|Question 2]]
 
| style="background-color:white;" | [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|Question 2]]
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
== 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.
 +
 +
<div class="vocab-subhead">From this standard</div>
 +
<div class="vocab-list" style="column-width:14em;">
 +
* 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
 +
</div>
 +
 +
<div class="vocab-subhead">From released test questions</div>
 +
<div class="vocab-list" style="column-width:20em;">
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q4|animal fossil]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q2|claim]] – Spring 2026, [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|Spring 2025]], [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|Spring 2024]]
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|climate zone]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q4|coastline]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|diagram]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|distribution]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|elevation]] – Spring 2024
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|equator]] – Spring 2026, [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|Sample]]
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|fault]] – Spring 2024
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|geologic structure]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|geoscience process]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|inference]] – Spring 2025, [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|Sample]]
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|land plant]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|landmass]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|mammal-like reptile]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|marine fossil]] – Sample
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q1|model]] – Spring 2026, [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|Spring 2024]]
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|mountain range]] – Spring 2025, [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|Spring 2024]]
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|ocean]] – Spring 2025, [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|Sample]]
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q2|ocean floor]] – Spring 2026, [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|Spring 2025]]
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q4|plant fossil]] – Spring 2026
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|plate boundary]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|rate of movement]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q4|rock strata]] – Spring 2026
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* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|seamount]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|sediment]] – Spring 2024
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* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|subcontinent]] – Spring 2025
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* [[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|surface feature]] – Spring 2025
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|tectonic plate motion]] – Spring 2024
 +
* [[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|tectonic process]] – Sample
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|topography]] – Spring 2024
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|uplift]] – Spring 2024
 +
* [[Questions:Death Valley#q3|valley]] – Spring 2024
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</div>
 +
 +
<div class="vocab-subhead">Implied by this standard</div>
 +
<div class="vocab-list">
 +
* 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"
 +
</div>
  
 
{{PerformanceLevelMS}}
 
{{PerformanceLevelMS}}
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| Level4 = Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of past plate motion. Describe the different patterns of past plate motions and explain why these past plate motions have occurred.
 
| Level4 = Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of past plate motion. Describe the different patterns of past plate motions and explain why these past plate motions have occurred.
 
| Level3 = Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
 
| Level3 = Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
 +
| Example3 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q2|Spring 2026 · Q35]]</span>
 
| Level2 = Using data, identify the evidence that supports past plate motions using either the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, or seafloor structures.
 
| Level2 = Using data, identify the evidence that supports past plate motions using either the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, or seafloor structures.
 +
| Example2 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q4|Spring 2026 · Q37]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q1|Spring 2025 · Q28]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q4|Spring 2025 · Q31]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Death Valley#q3|Spring 2024 · Q35]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Fossil Parks in New York State#q2|Sample · Fossil Parks in New York State Q2]]</span>
 
| Level1 = Using data as evidence, identify the explanation, from those provided, that supports past plate motion based on either the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, or seafloor structures.
 
| Level1 = Using data as evidence, identify the explanation, from those provided, that supports past plate motion based on either the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, or seafloor structures.
 +
| Example1 = <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q1|Spring 2026 · Q34]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Plate Tectonics#q3|Spring 2026 · Q36]]</span> <span class="pld-chip pld-chip-ms">[[Questions:Earth's Tectonic Plates#q2|Spring 2025 · Q29]]</span>
 
}}
 
}}
  
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| TOPIC = MS. History of Earth
 
| TOPIC = MS. History of Earth
 
}}
 
}}
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<metadesc>NYS Standard MS-ESS2-3: Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.</metadesc>
 

Latest revision as of 09:45, 18 October 2026

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.

Exam Cluster Question
Spring 2026 Grade 8 Test Plate Tectonics Question 34
Plate Tectonics Question 35
Plate Tectonics Question 36
Plate Tectonics Question 37
Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test Earth's Tectonic Plates Question 28
Earth's Tectonic Plates Question 29
Earth's Tectonic Plates Question 31
Spring 2024 Grade 8 Test Death Valley Question 35
Middle school sample clusters Fossil Parks in New York State Question 2

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.

From this standard
  • 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
From released test questions
Implied by this standard
  • 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.

Level 1: Using data as evidence, identify the explanation, from those provided, that supports past plate motion based on either the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, or seafloor structures. Spring 2026 · Q34 Spring 2026 · Q36 Spring 2025 · Q29
Level 2: Using data, identify the evidence that supports past plate motions using either the distribution of fossils, rocks, continental shapes, or seafloor structures. Spring 2026 · Q37 Spring 2025 · Q28 Spring 2025 · Q31 Spring 2024 · Q35 Sample · Fossil Parks in New York State Q2
Level 3: Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions. Spring 2026 · Q35
Level 4: Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of past plate motion. Describe the different patterns of past plate motions and explain why these past plate motions have occurred.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-ESS2-3.

Pixel beaver This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.


NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-ESS2-3 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
    • Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena.
Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • 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.
Crosscutting Concepts
  • Patterns
    • Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural systems.
MS | MS. History of Earth