Name ____________________________ Date ______________ Core _________
STUDY GUIDE
Semester 1
MS-ESS1-1: Develop and use model of Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic pattern of lunar
phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
 Understand the relationship between the Sun-Earth-Moon during a solar and lunar eclipse.
 Understand the cause of the moon phases.
 Understand the cause of the seasons as experienced in the northern and southern hemispheres.
 Be able to identify the position of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during lunar and solar eclipse.
 Be able to identify the moon phase given the location of the moon in orbit around the Earth.
 Be able to identify the season a hemisphere is experiencing given the amount of sunlight the hemisphere
is receiving.
MS-ESS1-2: Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and
the solar system.
 Understand the source of gravity in our solar system.
 Understand the role of gravity in determining the final location of material in our solar system.
 Understand the role of gravity in the present solar system.
MS-ESS1-3: Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of the objects in the solar system.
 Understand the unique and distinguishing characteristics of terrestrial planets, Jovian (gaseous) planets,
moons, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets.
 Be able to analyze data and categorize an objects in the solar system.
 Be able to distinguish between rotation and revolution.
 Be familiar with the length of time it takes Earth to revolve around the Sun and the length of time it
takes the Moon to revolve around the Earth.
MS-ESS2-1: Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that
drives this process.
 Be able to explain the processes of the rock cycle.
o Identify which processes play a role in the formation of each type of rock
 Be able to identify rock type by the process that created it.
MS-ESS2-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence how geoscience processes have changes Earth’s
surface at varying time and special scales.
 Be able to describe how weathering and erosion can change Earth’s surface.
 Be able to describe how large scale events, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, can change Earth’s
surface.
MS-ESS2-3: Analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and
seafloor spreading structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.
 Understand how evidence from fossils, rocks, glaciers, and continental shape support the claim of
continental drift (plate tectonic movement).
 Be able to analyze fossil, rock, glacier, and continental shape evidence from Earth’s history.
 Be able to identify and describe how plate tectonics interact (boundaries).
o Transform (slide past each other), Convergent (come together), and Divergent (move away).
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.
 Be able to identify the difference between a renewable and nonrenewable resource.
 Analyze and describe the impact of human use of Earth’s resources.
 Be able to identify a materials permeability (how easily water moves through it) of sediments based on
their size.
 Be able to explain why some resources are easily accessible in some locations, but not very accessible in
other locations.
MS-ESS3-4: Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and
per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
 Be able to describe the human impact on Earth’s resources.
How to study for a Final:
 Use your past Study Guides
 Use your past Quizzes
 Use your past Notes
 Look through past projects and papers
 Use the Class Calendar to clarify your understanding or replace any missing handouts/notes