Life Science
MS-LS2-3
Matter cycling and energy flow in ecosystems
Performance expectation
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
Clarification
Emphasis is on conservation of matter, energy flow into and out of ecosystems, and defining system boundaries.
Assessment boundary
Assessment does not include using chemical reactions to describe the processes.
SEP
Practice
- Developing and Using Models
DCI
Core idea
- LS2.B
CCC
Reasoning lens
- Energy and Matter
Evidence map
Rooms connected to MS-LS2-3.
“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.6–8.7, SL.8.5
Mathematics: 6.EE.9
California Environmental Principles and Concepts: I, II, III, IV, V
Verified 2026-07-29. Open the official California source.