Performance expectationUse a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate.
Examples of the causes of climate change differ by timescale, over 1-10 years: large volcanic eruption, ocean circulation; 10-100s of years: changes in human activity, ocean circulation, solar output; 10-100s of thousands of years: changes to Earth's orbit and the orientation of its axis; and 10-100s of millions of years: long-term changes in atmospheric composition and plate tectonic movement.
Assessment of the results of changes in climate is limited to changes in surface temperatures, precipitation patterns, glacial ice volumes, sea levels, and biosphere distribution.
Every item written to HS-ESS2-4 has to assess all three dimensions together, not the content alone. This is the structural change that made older practice material stop matching the exam.
Developing and Using Models
Phenomenon stimulus, connected items across the required types, answer key, rubric and figures drawn deterministically from a structured spec — in the format your students will sit.