9th Grade Earth Science
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Unit 1 – Earth’s Systems and Energy
Energy in Earth’s Systems
Priority Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-2. Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-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.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationship among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
Unit 2 – Astronomy
Stars, Energy, and Elements
Priority Performance Standard: ESS1-HS-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 that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS1-HS-3. Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements.
Origin of the Universe and Orbits
Priority Performance Standard: ESS1-HS-2. Construct an explanation of the current model of the origin of the universe based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS1-HS-4. Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.
Unit 3 – Earth’s Interior and Plate Tectonics
Earth’s Interior
Priority Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-3. Develop a model based on evidence of Earth’s interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection.
Plate Tectonics
Priority Performance Standard: ESS1-HS-5. 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.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-1. Develop a model to illustrate how Earth’s internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.
Unit 4 – Natural Resources
Mineral and Energy Resources
Priority Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-2. Evaluate competing solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-3. Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-4. Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Unit 5 – Surface Processes
Earth’s Materials and Surface Processes
Priority Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-1. Develop a model to illustrate how Earth’s internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.
Unit 6 – History of Earth
History of Earth
Priority Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-7. Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous coevolution of Earth’s systems and life on Earth.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS1-HS-6. Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation and early history.
Unit 7 – Climate Factors
Energy in the Climate
Priority Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-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.
Climate Models and Impacts
Priority Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-5. Analyze geoscience 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.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS2-HS-6. Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
Unit 8 – Earth and Humanity
Earth and Human Relationships
Priority Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
Supporting Performance Standard: ESS3-HS-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationship among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
