MS-ESS3-2

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Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.

Clarification statement: Emphasis is on how some natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions and severe weather, are preceded by phenomena that allow for reliable predictions, but others, such as earthquakes, occur suddenly and with no notice, and thus are not yet predictable. Examples of natural hazards could include those resulting from interior processes (such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) and surface processes (such as mass wasting and tsunamis), or from severe weather events (such as blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and droughts). Examples of data could include the locations, magnitudes, and frequencies of the natural hazards. Examples of technologies could include global technologies (such as satellite images to monitor hurricanes or forest fires) or local technologies (such as building basements in tornado-prone regions or reservoirs to mitigate droughts).

Grade 8 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-ESS3-2 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Exam	Cluster	Question
Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test	Mount Lyell and the Lyell Glacier	Question 9
	The Lake Erie Ecosystem	Question 12
Spring 2024 Grade 8 Test	Reservoirs and Town Water Districts	Question 20
	Reservoirs and Town Water Districts	Question 21
	Death Valley	Question 37
	Death Valley	Question 38

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
• blizzard
• catastrophic event
• data
• drought
• earthquake
• flood
• forecast
• forest fire
• frequency
• geologic force
• hurricane
• interior process
• map
• mass wasting
• mitigation
• natural hazard
• phenomenon
• predictability
• prediction
• reservoir
• satellite image
• severe weather
• severe weather event
• society
• surface process
• technology
• tornado
• tsunami
• volcanic eruption

From released test questions

• agriculture – Spring 2025
• air temperature – Spring 2024
• algal bloom – Spring 2025
• basin – Spring 2024
• climate – Spring 2024
• climate graph – Spring 2024
• coastal area – Spring 2025
• dam – Spring 2024
• dissolving – Spring 2024
• electricity – Spring 2024
• elevation – Spring 2024
• evaporation – Spring 2025
• evidence – Spring 2025, Spring 2024
• flash flood – Spring 2024
• flood mitigation – Spring 2024
• glacial surface area – Spring 2025
• glacier – Spring 2025
• global sea level – Spring 2025
• global technology – Spring 2024
• harmful algal bloom – Spring 2025
• lakeshore – Spring 2024
• local technology – Spring 2024
• mineral – Spring 2024
• mineral deposit – Spring 2024
• mitigation action – Spring 2025
• native plant – Spring 2024
• ocean – Spring 2025
• ocean surface – Spring 2025
• precipitation – Spring 2024
• rainfall – Spring 2024
• rate of change – Spring 2025
• runoff – Spring 2025
• satellite – Spring 2024
• sea level – Spring 2025
• season – Spring 2024
• seawall – Spring 2025
• septic tank – Spring 2025
• surface area – Spring 2025
• temperature – Spring 2025, Spring 2024
• trend – Spring 2024
• wastewater treatment plant – Spring 2025
• water conservation – Spring 2024
• water level – Spring 2024
• water purification – Spring 2024
• water source – Spring 2024
• waterway – Spring 2024

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-ESS3-2 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Given patterns of data for a natural hazard, describe one appropriate action that could be taken to limit the negative effects from that hazard. Spring 2024 Question 38

Level 2: Given patterns of data for a natural hazard, describe the predictability of that natural hazard and how society could work to mitigate its effects. Spring 2025 Question 9

Level 3: Analyze and interpret data on the patterns of natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects. Spring 2024 Question 37

Level 4: Analyze and interpret data on locations and patterns of natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and provide a real-world example of how a hazard has resulted in the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-ESS3-2.

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

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-ESS3-2 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 determine similarities and differences in findings.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
  • Mapping the history of natural hazards in a region, combined with an understanding of related geologic forces, can help forecast the locations and likelihoods of future events.

Crosscutting Concepts

• Patterns
  • Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.

Page contributors: Conrad Richman, Caroline Leonard, Shirley Shameen

MS | MS. Human Impacts