MS-ESS3-4 lessons
Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems. (Energy use is the resource students argue from.)
The Next Generation Science Standards code MS-ESS3-4 asks students to: “Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems. (Energy use is the resource students argue from.)” These Fieldbook lesson teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials, a printable teacher guide and a student sheet.
Our Changing Planet: Resources and Human Impact Grades 5–8 · partly supports this standard
- Do more people always use more resources? 50–60 min
Teams multiply real 2024 population and energy-per-person figures for six countries and find that the country with the most people is not the one that uses the most energy. They build an argument from evidence about how population and use per person together affect Earth's systems.
NGSS is used as written in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming, so the code MS-ESS3-4 matches there. Other states word and number their own versions: see curriculum alignment for your state's codes.
More NGSS standards for middle school
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