MS-LS2-3

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Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Clarification statement: Emphasis is on describing the conservation of matter and flow of energy associated with ecosystem, and on defining the boundaries of the ecosystem.

Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include the use of chemical reactions to describe the processes.

Grade 8 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-LS2-3 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	Cowbirds	Question 3

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

• aquatic environment
• atom
• boundary of an ecosystem
• chemical reaction
• component of an ecosystem
• conservation of matter
• consumer
• cycle
• cycling of matter
• decomposer
• ecosystem
• energy
• flow of energy
• food web
• matter
• model
• nutrient
• physical environment
• producer
• soil
• substance
• terrestrial environment

From released test questions

• sunlight – Spring 2026

Implied by this standard

• food chain – implied by "Food webs are models that demonstrate how matter and energy is transferred between producers, consumers, and decomposers"
• carbon cycle – implied by "The atoms that make up the organisms in an ecosystem are cycled repeatedly between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem"

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-LS2-3 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Given a model, identify a substance that is being cycled among the living or nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Level 2: Given a model, describe the cycling of matter or the flow of energy among living and/or nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Level 3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. Spring 2026 · Q3

Level 4: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem and to predict the effect on the ecosystem when a component of the ecosystem changes.

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-LS2-3.

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

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-LS2-3 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• Developing and Using Models
  • Develop a model to describe phenomena.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• LS2.B: Cycle of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
  • Food webs are models that demonstrate how matter and energy is transferred between producers, consumers, and decomposers as the three groups interact within an ecosystem. Transfers of matter into and out of the physical environment occur at every level. Decomposers recycle nutrients from dead plant or animal matter back to the soil in terrestrial environments or to the water in aquatic environments. The atoms that make up the organisms in an ecosystem are cycled repeatedly between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem.

Crosscutting Concepts

• Energy and Matter
  • The transfer of energy can be tracked as energy flows through a designed or natural system.

Page contributors: Caroline Leonard, Conrad Richman, Shirley Shameen

MS | MS. Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems