New Mexico

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Content Standards (7)

I.I.II.1

Understand that scientific knowledge is continually reviewed, critiqued, and revised as new data become available.

II.III.II.SE.2

Know that Earth’s crust is divided into plates that move very slowly, in response to movements in the mantle.

II.III.II.CE.7.b

similarities and differences between current and past processes on Earth’s surface (e.g., erosion, plate tectonics, changes in atmospheric composition)

I.I.II.3

Understand how new data and observations can result in new scientific knowledge.

II.III.II.EE.3

Describe the internal structure of Earth (e.g., core, mantle, crust) and the structure of Earth’s plates.

II.III.II.EE.5

Explain plate tectonic theory and understand the evidence that supports it.

II.III.II.ES.7.a

geological manifestations (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building) that occur at plate boundaries

STEM Ready! (1)

HS-ESS1-5

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.

Assessment Frameworks (7)

I.I.II.1

Understand that scientific knowledge is continually reviewed, critiqued, and revised as new data become available.

II.III.II.A.2

Know that Earth's crust is divided into plates that move very slowly, in response to movements in the mantle.

II.III.II.C.7.b

Know that landforms are created and change through a combination of constructive and destructive forces, including: similarities and differences between current and past processes on Earth's surface (e.g., erosion, plate tectonics, changes in atmospheric composition)

I.I.II.3

Understand how new data and observations can result in new scientific knowledge.

II.III.II.EE.3

Describe the internal structure of Earth (e.g., core, mantle, crust) and the structure of Earth’s plates.

II.III.II.EE.5

Explain plate tectonic theory and understand the evidence that supports it.

II.III.II.ES.7.a

geological manifestations (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building) that occur at plate boundaries

National

Benchmarks for Science Literacy (7)

4C/M1

The interior of the earth is hot. Heat flow and movement of material within the earth cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and create mountains and ocean basins. Gas and dust from large volcanoes can change the atmosphere.

4C/M12

The earth's plates sit on a dense, hot, somewhat melted layer of the earth. The plates move very slowly, pressing against one another in some places and pulling apart in other places, sometimes scraping alongside each other as they do. Mountains form as two continental plates, or an ocean plate and a continental plate, press together.

4C/M13

There are worldwide patterns to major geological events (such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building) that coincide with plate boundaries.

1B/H6a

In the short run, new ideas that do not mesh well with mainstream ideas in science often encounter vigorous criticism.

1B/H6b

In the long run, theories are judged by the range of observations they explain, how well they explain observations, and how useful they are in making accurate predictions.

1B/H7

New ideas in science are limited by the context in which they are conceived; are often rejected by the scientific establishment; sometimes spring from unexpected findings; and usually grow slowly, through contributions from many investigators.

4C/H5

Earthquakes often occur along the boundaries between colliding plates, and molten rock from below creates pressure that is released by volcanic eruptions, helping to build up mountains. Under the ocean basins, molten rock may well up between separating plates to create new ocean floor. Volcanic activity along the ocean floor may form undersea mountains, which can thrust above the ocean's surface to become islands.

Next Generation Science Standards

Grade Level Disciplinary Core Ideas (1)

HS-ESS2.B.2

Plate tectonics is the unifying theory that explains the past and current movements of the rocks at Earth’s surface and provides a framework for understanding its geologic history.

Science and Engineering Practices Appendix F (1)

SEP.4.e

Evaluate the impact of new data on a working explanation and/or model of a proposed process or system.