Introduction
National Middle School Science Standards
Earth Science
Key Terms
igneous petrology, plate tectonics, magma, core, mantle, subduction, spreading seafloor
Key Concepts
- Dynamics of plate tectonics
- Distribution of submarine volcanoes
- Formation of igneous materials
- Technology used by petrologists
Resource Types
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
The Volcanoes and Plate Tectonics teaching resources support students in meeting the following middle school NGSS Performance Expectations.
Earth Science
MS-ESS2 Earth's Systems
- MS-ESS2-2 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales
- MS-ESS2-3 Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions
MS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
- MS-ESS3-1 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth's mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes
- MS-ESS3-2 Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects
