MS-ESS2-3

Evidence of Plate Motion

Next Generation Standards

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.

Clarification Statement Examples of data include similarities of rock and fossil types on different continents, the shapes of the continents (including continental shelves), and the locations of ocean structures (such as ridges, fracture zones, and trenches).

Assessment Boundary - Paleomagnetic anomalies in oceanic and continental crust are not assessed.

Massachusetts Standards

6.MS-ESS2-3 - Analyze and interpret maps showing the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence that Earth’s plates have moved great distances, collided, and spread apart.

Clarification Statement - Maps may show similarities of rock and fossil types on different continents, the shapes of the continents (including continental shelves), and the locations of ocean structures (such as ridges, fracture zones, and trenches), similar to Wegener’s visuals.

Assessment Boundary - Mechanisms for plate motion or paleomagnetic anomalies in oceanic and continental crust are not expected in state assessment.

MS-ESS2-3 - Evidence of Plate Motion