HS-ESS1-5

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Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks.

Clarification statement: Emphasis is on the ability of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks. Examples include evidence of the ages of oceanic crust increasing with distance from mid-ocean ridges as a result of plate spreading and that the North American continental crust contains a much older central ancient core compared to the surrounding continental crust as a result of complex and numerous plate interactions.

Reference Tables

Relevant reference tables:

• Locations of Selected Hotspots
• Global Tectonic Activity of the Last One Million Years

Assessment

What assessment of HS-ESS1-5 might look like on a NY state exam.

Exam	Cluster	Question
June 2026	Iceland Hotspot	Question 1
	The Complex Tectonics of the Western Pacific	Question 37
June 2025	Tectonics of Hawaiian Islands	Question 47
	Tectonics of Hawaiian Islands	Question 48
Sample clusters (Spring 2024)	Plate Tectonics	Question 3
	Plate Tectonics	Question 5

Performance Level Descriptions

PLDs communicate the knowledge and skills expected of students to demonstrate proficiency in each Learning Standard. NYS assessments classify student performance into one of five levels.

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Level 1: Based on evidence of past and current crustal movements, identify the relative ages of continental and/or oceanic crust.

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Level 2: Identify the correct pattern of the ages of crustal rocks, using past and current movements of continental crust and/or oceanic crust and/or the theory of plate tectonics.

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Level 3: Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and/or oceanic crust and/or use the theory of plate tectonics, determine the pattern in the ages of crustal rocks.

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Level 4: Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks.

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Level 5: Using multiple sources of evidence, analyze the patterns in the data of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust to explain the ages of crustal rocks.

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

• argument
• central ancient core
• continental crust
• continental rocks
• crustal rocks
• Earth
• Earth’s surface
• exponential decay law
• geologic history
• half-life
• mid-ocean ridges
• North American continental crust
• ocean floor
• oceanic crust
• plate interaction
• plate spreading
• plate tectonics
• radioactive decay
• radiometric dating
• relative ages
• unifying theory

From released exam questions

• crust – June 2025, Sample 2024
• fracture zone – June 2026
• geologic time – Sample 2024
• island arc – June 2026
• magnetic polarity – Sample 2024
• microplate – June 2026
• model – June 2026, Sample 2024
• motion – June 2025
• mountain – Sample 2024
• ocean – June 2026, June 2025, Sample 2024
• rift zone – June 2026
• volcanism – June 2026
• volcano – June 2026

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation HS-ESS1-5 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• Engaging in Argument from Evidence
  • Evaluate evidence behind currently accepted explanations or solutions to determine the merits of arguments.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth
  • Continental rocks, which can be older than 4 billion years, are generally much older than the rocks of the ocean floor, which are less than 200 million years old.
• ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions
  • Plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains the past and current movements of the rocks at Earth's surface and provides a framework for understanding its geologic history. (secondary to HS-ESS1-5)
• PS1.C: Nuclear Processes
  • (NYSED) 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. (secondary to HS-ESS1-5)

Crosscutting Concepts

• Patterns
  • Empirical evidence is needed to identify patterns.

Page contributors: Conrad Richman, Caroline Leonard

Earth and Space Science | HS. History of the Earth