9-12-ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe

9-12-ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars

9-12-ESS1-1: Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the Sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the Sun’s core to release energy in the form of radiation.

H-R Diagram
Nuclear Reactions

9-12-ESS1-2: Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.

Big Bang Theory - Hubble's Law

9-12-ESS1-3: Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements.

Nuclear Reactions

9-12-ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

9-12-ESS1.4: Use Kepler’s Law to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.

Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws
Solar System Explorer

9-12-ESS2: Earth's Systems

9-12-ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems

9-12-ESS2-1: Develop a model to illustrate how Earth’s interior and surface processes (constructive and destructive) operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.

Erosion Rates
Plate Tectonics
River Erosion
Weathering

9-12-ESS2-2: Analyze geoscientific data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create changes to other Earth systems.

Carbon Cycle

9-12-ESS2-3: Develop a model based on evidence of Earth’s interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection.

Conduction and Convection
Plate Tectonics

9-12-ESS2-4: Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate.

Greenhouse Effect - Metric

9-12-ESS2.C: The Role of Water in Earth's Surface Processes

9-12-ESS2-5: Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Erosion Rates
River Erosion
Rock Cycle
Water Cycle
Weathering

9-12-ESS2.D: Weather and Climate

9-12-ESS2-6: Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Carbon Cycle

9-12-ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

9-12-ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth's Systems

9-12-ESS3-3: Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Pond Ecosystem
Water Pollution

9-12-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems in order to restore stability and or biodiversity of the ecosystem as well as prevent their reoccurences.

GMOs and the Environment
Nitrogen Cycle

9-12-ESS3.D: Global Climate Change

9-12-ESS3-5: Analyze geoscientific data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.

Greenhouse Effect - Metric

9-12-ESS3-6: Predict how human activity affects the relationships between Earth systems in both positive and negative ways.

Carbon Cycle
Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors