Read the Standards

Read the Standards | Next Generation Science Standards

Evidence Statements

(detailed look at each standard)

Evidence Statement | Next Generation Science Standards

DCI Progression

APPENDIX E - Progressions Within the Next Generation Science Standards 

Science & Engineering Practices

APPENDIX F – Science and Engineering Practices in the NGSS

Topic/Lab

Topic

Learning Objective(s)

Topic #1

Natural Resources

• Define and give examples of natural resources.
• Classify resources as natural or synthetic.

Topic #2

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources

• Classify natural resources as renewable or nonrenewable.

Topic #3

Synthetic Products

• Give examples of how humans use natural resources to make synthetic products.

Topic #4

Distribution of Resources

• Explain how natural resources are distributed on Earth.

Topic #5

Effects of Uneven Distribution

• Explain the effects of uneven distribution of natural resources.

Lab

Synthetic Products

• Compare and contrast natural and synthetic materials.
• Describe how natural resources are used to make synthetic products.
• Explain how synthetic products impact society.

Lab

Distribution of Resources

• Describe how natural resources are distributed unevenly on Earth.
• Explain current and past geoscience processes that result in uneven distribution of resources on Earth.
• Discuss the effects of uneven distribution of resources on Earth.

NGSS

DCI

Alignment

Justification

4-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Natural Resources

Direct Alignment

Explains renewable vs. nonrenewable resources; discusses fossil fuels, uranium, and their environmental implications.

4-ESS3-1

ESS3.C

Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Indirect Alignment

Discusses resource depletion (e.g., trees, water), setting up the concept of human impact.

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Natural Resources

Direct Alignment

Discusses uneven resource distribution and the geoscience processes that cause it (climate, Earth history, tectonics).

MS-ESS3-1

ESS2.A

Earth’s Materials and Systems

Indirect Alignment

Describe tectonic activity, glaciation, and sedimentation shaping soil, aquifers, and resource locations.

MS-PS1-3

PS1.B

Chemical Reactions

Direct Alignment

Describes how natural resources are chemically altered to produce synthetic products.

MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A

Natural Resources

Direct Alignment

Synthetic products originate from natural resources (plants, animals, petroleum, etc.).

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A

Structure & Properties of Matter

Indirect Alignment

Implied through discussion of properties and uses of synthetic vs. natural materials.

NGSS

DCI

Alignment

Justification

HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Natural Resources

Direct

Explains where resources are found and how they are used; shows link to settlement, jobs, and trade.

 HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.C

Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Direct

Describes how human activity is shaped by access to and distribution of natural resources.

 HS-ESS3-1

ESS2.D

Weather and Climate

Direct

Explains how climate influences ecosystems, agriculture, and where people settle.

 HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.B

Natural Hazards

Indirect Alignment

Mentions geological processes like tectonics and glaciation but does not directly address specific hazards.

5-PS1-4

PS1.B

Chemical Reactions

Indirect Alignment

Discusses chemical changes, laying the foundation for recognizing when new substances are formed.

4-ESS3-2

ESS3.B

Natural Hazards

Indirect Alignment

Briefly touches on resource scarcity (e.g., water) and the need to manage renewable resources sustainably.

Topic

NGSS

DCI

Support Explanation

Definition of natural resources as things that exist innately in the environment

4-ESS3-1,MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A – Natural Resources

Defines natural resources and emphasizes their origin in Earth's systems, not human design.

Natural resources can be living or nonliving; include sun, water, soil, etc.

4-ESS3-1, MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A

Expands understanding of the broad variety of natural resources humans rely on.

Natural resources are used for energy, food, and construction

4-ESS3-1, MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A

Shows how humans depend on these materials to support survival and modern life.

Synthetic resources are not found naturally and are created by humans

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A – Structure and Properties of Matter;

ESS3.A

Introduces the distinction between natural and synthetic materials, highlighting human transformation of resources.

Synthetic resources are made from natural resources through chemical processes

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A

Explains that synthetic products are chemically engineered from natural substances.

Examples of synthetic products: food, medicine, clothing, electronics

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A, ESS3.A

Provides real-world applications showing how synthetic materials impact everyday life.

Topic

NGSS

DCI

Support Explanation

Definition and types of natural resources

MS-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-1

ESS3.A – Natural Resources

Introduces students to the broad category of resources that humans depend on.

Explanation of renewable vs. nonrenewable resources

MS-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Clarifies the difference between resources that replenish quickly and those that form over geologic time.

Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and are used faster than they are created

MS-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Demonstrates the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels due to slow formation rates versus fast consumption.

Resources are finite and can be depleted, including renewable ones if overused

MS-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-1

ESS3.A, ESS3.C – Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Shows how unsustainable human use can turn renewable resources into functionally nonrenewable ones.

Use of energy and fuels impacts resource availability and ecosystems

4-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Illustrates the environmental effects of human reliance on both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.

Topic

NGSS

DCI

Support Explanation

Definition of natural resources as things that exist innately in the environment

MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A – Natural Resources

Introduces that humans rely on Earth's naturally occurring materials for survival and daily use.

Natural resources can be living or nonliving and include sun, water, soil, fossil fuels, etc.

MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A

Builds understanding of the wide variety of resources humans rely on from nature.

Uses for natural resources: energy, food, manufacturing, construction

MS-PS1-3

ESS3.A

Shows how society depends on natural materials to meet essential needs and functions.

Synthetic resources are man-made and not naturally found in the environment

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A – Structure and Properties of Matter; ESS3.A

Defines synthetic products and highlights their origin in human- designed processes using natural inputs.

Synthetic resources are made from natural resources through chemical processes

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A

Explains transformation of matter through chemical reactions in creating synthetic materials.

Plant-based synthetic products (food, medicine, cosmetics)

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A, ESS3.A

Connects real-world examples of transforming plant-based materials into synthetic products used in daily life.

Animal-based synthetic products (food, gelatin, pharmaceuticals)

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A, ESS3.A

Illustrates how natural biological substances are chemically modified into useful synthetic products.

Petroleum-based products (plastics, fabrics, lubricants)

MS-PS1-3

PS1.A, ESS3.A

Shows how fossil fuels, a natural resource, are chemically processed into synthetic materials essential to modern life.

Topic

NGSS

DCI

Support Explanation

Climate influences where plants, animals, and fertile soil are found

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A, ESS2.D

Shows how climate patterns affect resource distribution, particularly fertile soil and biodiversity.

Fossil fuel formation linked to ancient plant and animal remains

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A, ESS1.C

Describes how Earth's biological and geological history determines where fossil fuels are found today.

Glaciers shaped landforms and moved mineral-rich soils

MS-ESS3-1

ESS2.A, ESS3.A

Connects glacial movement to sedimentation and aquifer formation, which impacts groundwater availability.

Geological processes determine where metals and minerals are found

MS-ESS3-1

ESS2.B, ESS3.A

Shows that tectonic activity and rock formation processes affect the location of metal, mineral, and uranium deposits.

Fertile soil and biodiversity support agriculture and ecosystem balance

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A, LS4.D

Demonstrates how resource- rich regions support human settlement and biodiversity, both essential to ecosystems.

Groundwater stored in aquifers formed through geologic and glacial processes

MS-ESS3-1

ESS2.A, ESS3.A

Links rock type and geologic history to aquifer location, affecting access to freshwater resources.

Fossil fuels and their geographic distribution

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A, ESS1.C

Explains the past environments where fossil fuels formed, showing why resources are unevenly distributed.

Metal and mineral deposits found near faults, volcanoes, or in specific rock types

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A, ESS2.B

Illustrates the geological origin of important natural resources like gold, diamonds, and rare earth metals.

Rare earth elements found in specific regions and rock types

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Shows the global uneven distribution of resources that are critical for modern technology.

Topic

NGSS

DCI

Support Explanation

Uneven distribution of natural resources

MS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A – Natural Resources

Central concept of the standard - resource distribution results from past geologic and climate processes.

Geologic and climate processes shaping resources

MS-ESS3-1

ESS2.A – Earth’s Materials and Systems

Explain how glaciation, sedimentation, tectonics, and volcanism have influenced the location of resource distribution.

Settlement patterns influenced by resource access

HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Details how human civilizations form in regions with access to water and fertile land.

Jobs and economies shaped by local resources

HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Explains how resource-rich regions determine the types of economic activities and jobs that develop.

Global trade driven by resource needs

HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Describes how countries without key resources trade for them. Gives real-world examples.

Wealth and quality of life tied to resource use

HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.A

Shows a country’s economic development is linked to its ability to access or trade for natural resources (or manufacture them).

Resource-based conflict and exploitation

HS-ESS3-1

ESS3.C

Explores historical and modern examples of conflict over resource-rich areas, including imperialism.

Climate’s influence on livability and agriculture

HS-ESS3-1

ESS2.D – Weather and Climate

Explains temperate climates to biodiversity, fertile soil, and where people live and grow food.

Topic

NGSS

Support Explanation

Synthetic and natural products

MS-PS1-3: Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.

Address the transformation of natural resources into synthetic products and their societal impacts

Disciplinary Core Idea

Support Explanation

PS1.A (Structure and Properties of Matter)

Students examine the transformation of materials and investigate chemical vs. physical changes (Narrative Station).

ESS3.A (Natural Resources)

Students explore the sources and sustainability of natural resources, their role in synthetic production, and alternative fuels (Problem-Solving Station).

Science and Engineering Practice

Alignment Evidence

Planning and carrying out investigations

In the Science Skills Station, students design an experiment comparing natural and synthetic antibiotics.

Engaging in argument from evidence

Students write a CER report to support a claim about synthetic materials using evidence from multiple stations.

Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Narrative and Problem-Solving stations require students to extract, assess, and communicate ideas from texts and research.

CCSS Math Integration

Alignment Evidence

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.4-5

(Display and interpret data)

Students may collect and analyze experimental data in the antibiotic experiment

(Science Skills Station).

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.RP.A.2

(Proportional reasoning)

Potentially used in comparing fuel costs and energy content during research and evaluation.

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP2

(Reason abstractly and quantitatively)

Required when comparing energy content, environmental impact, and cost of different fuels.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Alignment Evidence

Cause and Effect

Questions about environmental impact and pros/cons of synthetic products require students to analyze causes and effects.

Energy and Matter

Alternative fuel station tasks students with tracing the energy transformations from natural resources to synthetic fuels.

Structure and Function

Evaluation of different synthetic products includes their structure (composition) and functional use in society.

Topic

NGSS

Support Explanation

Uneven distribution of natural resources

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.

Examines how geoscience processes like plate tectonics, climate, and biological activity contribute to the distribution of resources such as oil, copper, and biodiversity.

Distribution of Natural Resources and Societal Impact

HS-ESS3-1: 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.

Engages students in evaluating how natural resources are unevenly distributed due to geoscience processes and how this influences human settlement, economic activity, conflict, trade, and quality of life.

Disciplinary Core Idea

Support Explanation

ESS3.A (Natural Resources)

Multiple stations highlight the role of past climate, biological activity, and tectonics in the distribution of fossil fuels, soil, metals, and biodiversity.

ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

Though not a central theme, the lab touches on plate tectonics and volcanic activity that could lead to hazards.

ESS3.D: Global Climate Change

The lab discusses how climate – past and present – shapes where resources like fossil fuels and fertile soil are located.

Science and Engineering Practice

Alignment Evidence

Defining problems

Problem-solving station asks students to identify and discuss real-world issues caused by uneven resource distribution.

Analyzing and interpreting data

Students graph oil reserves, interpret maps of copper and uranium deposits, and relate data to tectonic processes.

Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Narrative and synthesis stations require reading, analysis, and synthesis into a CER argument.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Alignment Evidence

Cause and Effect

Students analyze how geoscience processes lead to the formation and location of different resources.

Patterns

Graphing and mapping activities help students recognize spatial and geological patterns in resource distribution.

Stability and Change

Lab examines how natural systems have changed over time and how those changes influence resource locations.

CCSS Math Integration

Alignment Evidence

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.4-5

(Statistics and Probability)

Students graph and interpret oil reserve data to identify regional patterns.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.RP.A.2

(Ratios and Proportional Relationships)

Used to understand proportional differences in resource distribution (e.g., pie chart analysis of oil reserves).

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4

(Model with Mathematics)

Modeling real-world problems by analyzing natural resource data to infer causes and consequences.