GEOSPHERE

 G1a.
Identify and illustrate that radioactive decay and heat of formation are
the sources of Earth’s internal heat. _____JaCl(1), ThVe(2), ChGa(7)

 G1b.
Trace the lines of scientific evidence (e.g., seismic studies, composition of
meteorites, and samples of the crust and mantle) that led to the inference that Earth’s
core, mantle, and crust are separated based on composition._____ RaLo(8), MaMa(7)

G1c.
Trace the lines of scientific evidence that led to the inference that Earth’s
lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, and inner core are separated based on physical properties._____ LiMc(2), BrJo(6), EaBr (7)

 G1d.
Model and explain how convection currents help distribute heat within the mantle.
____ PrHe(1), EmGo(2), KaLe (4), TyJo(7)

 G2a.
Explain and illustrate Alfred Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis,
his evidence (e.g., fossil record, ancient climates, geometric fit of
continents), and why it was not accepted in his time.
_____ GiPe(1), MaIs(2), JoLo(4), BeSi(6), AlEs (7), AnCr(8)

 G2b.
Cite and explain how examples of how the geologic record preserves
evidence of past change._____ MiSc(1), LiOl(6), TiSi(8), ShMa(7)

 G2c.
Explain and illustrate the importance of the discovery of mid-ocean ridges,
oceanic trenches, and magnetic striping of the sea floor to the development of the modern theory of plate tectonics._____ AlNi(1), AuPy(6), ShQu(7),JaCa(8)

 G2d.
Explain and illustrate how mantle plumes (hot spots) provide evidence for the rate and direction of tectonic plate motion._____ SaFi(1), SeRo(4), BrDu(8), AnCo(7)

 G2e.
Organize and evaluate the evidence for the current theory of plate tectonics:
sea floor spreading, age of sea floor, distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.
___JuGr(1), SoHa(2),  KoLu(4), BrNy(6), PaLa(7), JoSt(8)

 G3a.
Describe and illustrate a lithospheric plate and identify the major plates of the Earth. _____AnAy (2), BrAr (6), DaUr (7), ThWa(4), JaGr(8)

 G3b.
Describe and illustrate how earthquakes and volcanoes transfer energy from
Earth’s interior to the surface (e.g., seismic waves transfer mechanical energy,
flowing magma transfers heat and mechanical energy).
 _______MaRa(2), NiSh(2), FiMc(4), HaMa(8), BrHa(7)

 G3c.
Model and explain the factors that cause tectonic plates to
move (e.g., gravity, density, convection).
 _____ BrMa(2), ChRe(1), BrSa(4), SaIr(7), KoHu(8)

 G3d.
Model and explain tectonic plate movement and compare the results of plate
movement along convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries (e.g.,
mountain building, volcanoes, earthquakes, mid-ocean ridges, oceanic trenches).
___RoTa(2), JoMa(1), AsNe(6), TaSo(7), MyJo(8)

 ATMOSPHERE
 A1a.
Compare and contrast the amount of energy coming from the Sun that is reflected,
absorbed, or scattered by the atmosphere, oceans, and land masses.
________________HaMi(2), AlMc(4), AdTo(7), DaJo(8)

 A1b.
Illustrate and explain how the greenhouse effect contributes to atmospheric
energy. _____ChLe(1), AnCe (2), DeOl(6), DaMc(4),  KeSu(7), JaAn(8)

 A1c.
Illustrate and explain how the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes variations in the
intensity and duration of sunlight striking the Earth.  
______JoTh(1), GaAr(2), BrBu(6), ShSt(4), MeFi (8), LiRe(7)

 A1d.
Illustrate and explain how uneven heating of Earth’s atmosphere at the equator
and polar regions combined with the Coriolis effect create an atmospheric
circulation system including Hadley cells, trade winds, and prevailing
westerlies, that move heat energy around the Earth.
______BrCa(4), MaSp(7), JuRo(8)

 A1e.
Illustrate and explain how the presence of ozone in the stratosphere is
beneficial to life, while ozone in the troposphere is considered an air
pollutant._____FeSo(1), ZaBa(4), CaMi(6), EmRo(8), ScWi(7), TaNe(4)

 A2a.
Illustrate and identify the elements of weather and the instruments used to measure them
(e.g., temperature-thermometer, precipitation - rain gauge or Doppler radar,
humidity - hygrometer, air pressure - barometer, wind - anemometer, cloud
coverage - satellite imaging).____AlLo(4), BrRe(4), KaKo(2)

 A2b.
Illustrate and describe conditions that give rise to severe weather phenomena
(e.g., thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes).
 __BrTh(1), ChWi(2), MaBr(4), CyLa(6), MeCa(7)

 A2c.
Illustrate and explain the difference between a low pressure system and a high
pressure system, including weather associated with them.
 ________CoRo(1), JoPa(1), MiBl(6), BrLu(4), SiSo(7)

 A2d.
Diagram and describe cold, warm, occluded, and stationary boundaries (weather
fronts) between air masses.______CaFi(1), DoNa(6), BrOc(4), GaJe(8)

 A3a.
Illustrate and explain differences between weather and climate and the methods
used to investigate evidence for changes in climate (e.g. ice core sampling,
tree rings, historical temperature measurements, changes in the extent of alpine
glaciers, changes in the extent of Arctic sea ice).
 ______TaPo(2), EsRi(1), JaMa(6), BrYo(4)

 A3b.
Illustrate and explain how Earth’s climate has changed over time and describe
the natural causes for these changes (e.g., Milankovitch cycles, solar
fluctuations, plate tectonics)._____JoAl(1)

 A3c.
Illustrate and describe how human activity influences the carbon cycle and may
contribute to climate change. _____BeHl(1), SaSu(6)

 A3d.
Illustrate and explain the differences between air pollution and climate change
and how these are related to society’s use of fossil fuels. 
 
 A3e.
Illustrate and explain the current and potential consequences of climate change
(e.g., ocean acidification, sea level rise, desertification, habitat loss) on
ecosystems, including human communities. ____AlLi(1), NiCr(6), 
 

 HYDROSPHERE

 H1a.
Identify and illustrate the oceans, lakes, running water, frozen water, ground
water, and atmospheric moisture as the reservoirs of Earth’s water
cycle, and graph or chart the relative amounts of water in each. ___
 WhBa(1), KaCh(2), KaMi(4) MaRa(6), CaLa(8), JoBu(7), KoEs(8)

 H1b.
Describe and illustrate the processes of evaporation, condensation,
precipitation, surface runoff, ground infiltration and transpiration
and how they contribute to the cycling of water through Earth’s reservoirs.
__AndNew(4), BaHo(1), RaZo(2), MiGa(6), MoSa(7)

 H1c.
Model and explain the natural purification of
water as it moves through the water cycle and compare natural purification to
processes used in local sewage treatment plants.
 ___AlBu(1), AlRo(6), DaSt(8), KeGo(4)

 H2a.
Investigate, illustrate and explain the properties of water: exists in all three
states, dissolves many substances, exhibits adhesion and
cohesion, density of solid vs. liquid water.
___MiPa(2), ChPo(8), SaLi(4)

 H2b.
Illustrate and explain how biotic and abiotic factors
affect freshwater ecosystems.___BaSh(2), ViSt(8), DyRe(4), AlWi(6)

 H2c.
Using data collected from local water systems, display and describe water
quality and conclude how pollution can make water unavailable or unsuitable for
life. ____CoLi(6)

H2d.
Research and report how communities manage water resources (e.g.,
distribution, shortages, quality, flood control) to address social,
economic, and environmental concerns.
______________________________________________________________________________

 H3a.
Research, illustrate and explain how the oceans formed from outgassing by
volcanoes and ice from comets.
___NiTo(1), JaCa(4), GaTh(7), BrHa(6)

 H3b.
Investigate, illustrate and explain how salinity,
temperature, and pressure at different depths and locations in oceans and lakes
affect saltwater ecosystems. ___KySa(6)_

 H3c.
Compare and explain chemical properties (e.g., chemical composition,
percent salinity) and physical properties (e.g., density, freezing point
 depression) of freshwater samples to saltwater samples from different sources.
____StAl(2)

 H3d.
Model and explain energy flow in
the physical dynamics of oceans (e.g., wave action, deep ocean tides
circulation, surface currents, land and sea breezes, El Niño, upwellings).
____JoDe(2)

 H3e.
Evaluate and explain the impact of human activities (e.g., sediment, pollution,
overfishing) on ocean systems. Provide specific examples. ____TaLa(1)

 PEOPLE and EARTH SYSTEMS

 P1a.
Illustrate how energy flowing and matter cycling within Earth’s biosphere,
geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere give rise to processes that shape Earth.
______________________________________________________________________________

 P1b.
Explain how Earth’s systems are dynamic and continually react to natural and
human caused changes.____JoMo(1), AnNei(4)

 P1c.
Explain how technological advances lead to increased human knowledge (e.g.,
satellite imaging, deep sea ocean probes, seismic sensors, weather radar systems) and ability
to predict how changes affect Earth’s systems. __CeMa(1), CoDi(6), EtSm(8)

 P1d.
Design and conduct an experiment that investigates how Earth’s biosphere, geosphere,
atmosphere, or hydrosphere reacts to human-caused change.___BrRo(8)

 P1e.
Research and report on how scientists study feedback loops to
inform the public about Earth’s interacting systems. Provide examples. __KaOl(2), ChPe(6),
GaNe(8)

 P2a.
Investigate how Earth's resources (e.g., mineral resources, petroleum resources,
alternative energy resources, water resources, soil and agricultural resources)
are distributed across the state, the country, and the world. __BrRi (1)

 P2b.
Research and report on how human populations depend on Earth resources for
sustenance and how changing conditions over time have affected these resources
(e.g.,water pollution, air pollution, increases in population). __CoWa(6)

 P2c.
Predict how resource development and use alters Earth systems (e.g., water reservoirs,
alternative energy sources, wildlife preserves). ___ChDi(6)

 P2d.
Describe the role of scientists in providing data that informs the discussion of
Earth resource use. ___MiBr(2), BrPa (4)

 P2e.
Justify the claim that Earth science literacy can help the public make informed choices related
to the extraction and use of natural resources.
______________________________________________________________________________

 P3a.
Identify and describe natural hazards that occur locally (e.g., wildfires, landslides,
earthquakes, floods, drought) and globally (e.g., volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes).
________IsBu(2),  ElJe(2), JeGo(4), JaMc(7)

 P3b.
Evaluate and give examples of human activities that can contribute to the frequency and
intensity of some natural hazards (e.g., construction that may increase erosion,
human causes of wildfires, climate change). ___BrRa(8)

 P3c.
Document how scientists use technology to continually improve estimates of when
and where natural hazards occur. ____AsPr(2), JJGi(7)

 P3d.
Investigate and report how social, economic, and environmental issues affect decisions about human-engineered structures (e.g., dams, homes, bridges, roads). ________ChSm(4)