In this unit, students focus on the processes that cycle Earth materials, connecting the movement of water in the water cycle and wind with changes to Earth’s surface through weathering and erosion. In this lesson, students explore the science phenomena of how convection in Earth’s mantle causes the tectonic plates to move, creating many of Earth’s landforms. This page showcases key components of this lesson.
In this unit, students focus on phenomena related to Earth’s ice as they model how glaciers shape Earth’s surface, and investigate how scientists use ice cores to reconstruct Earth’s past climates and environments. In this lesson, students analyze how scientists can use the science phenomena of fossils in rock layers as evidence for past changes on Earth.
Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.