Earth and Space Science

MS-ESS3-1

Uneven distribution of natural resources

Performance expectation

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.

Clarification

Emphasis is on limited, typically nonrenewable resources and process-based examples such as petroleum, ores, and soil.

Assessment boundary

No additional assessment boundary is stated.

SEP

Practice

  • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

DCI

Core idea

  • ESS3.A

CCC

Reasoning lens

  • Cause and Effect

Evidence map

Rooms connected to MS-ESS3-1.

“Primary” means the chapter includes an observable performance and assessable artifact for this expectation; “supporting” builds context.

Connections recorded in the official model

ELA/literacy: RST.6–8.1, WHST.6–8.2, WHST.6–8.9

Mathematics: 6.EE.6, 7.EE.4

California Environmental Principles and Concepts: I

Verified 2026-07-29. Open the official California source.