What grade levels do these standards cover?

Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12

Where can I read the official document?

2023 Alabama Course of Study: Science

K–12 Standards

Earth and Space Science
Other Alabama Science sets
Grade K
Grades K-2: Overview
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grades 3-5: Overview
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grades 6-8: Overview
Grade 7
Grade 8
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Grades 9-12: Overview
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Physical Science
Physics

Earth’s Place in the Universe

Stars and Star Properties
Patterns
1. 1
  Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the connections among mass, gravity, and fusion in the life cycle of stars.ESS.1
Stars and Star Properties
Stability and Change
Stars and Star Properties
Systems and System Models
Stars and Star Properties
Cause and Effect
Stars and Star Properties
Energy and Matter
The Solar System and the Universe
Cause and Effect
1. 2
  Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the structure and motion of components of the universe and solar system.ESS.2
  a
  Use mathematics and computational thinking to predict the motion of natural and man-made objects in the solar system, using Kepler’s laws, Newton’s laws of motion, and Newton’s gravitational laws.ESS.2.a
  b
  Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain the relationships between the properties of light and distances in the solar system and universe, including the Doppler effect, red shift, light years, and astronomical units.ESS.2.b
The Solar System and the Universe
Patterns
The Solar System and the Universe
Structure and Function
The Solar System and the Universe
Patterns
Historical Perspectives
Cause and Effect
1. 3
  Research, evaluate, and communicate information about how the findings of early astronomers, including Aristotle, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein, challenged the thinking of their time, allowed for academic advancements, and built a foundation for space exploration.ESS.3
  a
  Obtain and evaluate scientific information that explains how the application of new knowledge and technological advances has improved human understanding of the universe.ESS.3.a
Historical Perspectives
Energy and Matter
Historical Perspectives
Cause and Effect

Utilize models to explain the process of stellar evolution from star birth to star death.ESS.1.a

a
Utilize models to explain the process of stellar evolution from star birth to star death.ESS.1.a

Interpret the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to analyze the properties of stars, including density, magnitude, temperature, rates of fusion, and spectral class.ESS.1.b

b
Interpret the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to analyze the properties of stars, including density, magnitude, temperature, rates of fusion, and spectral class.ESS.1.b

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how nuclear fusion in stars and supernovas leads to the formation of all other elements.ESS.1.c

c
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how nuclear fusion in stars and supernovas leads to the formation of all other elements.ESS.1.c

Analyze and interpret data to quantify the energy produced in stars, using Einstein’s theory of general relativity by applying E=mc2 to show that the small amount of mass produced during hydrogen fusion produces a large amount of energy.ESS.1.d

d
Analyze and interpret data to quantify the energy produced in stars, using Einstein’s theory of general relativity by applying E=mc2 to show that the small amount of mass produced during hydrogen fusion produces a large amount of energy.ESS.1.d

Analyze spectroscopic data to determine the properties and motion of objects in space.ESS.2.c

c
Analyze spectroscopic data to determine the properties and motion of objects in space.ESS.2.c

Investigate and communicate major properties of bodies in the solar system and the zones they inhabit.ESS.2.d

d
Investigate and communicate major properties of bodies in the solar system and the zones they inhabit.ESS.2.d

Use mathematics to explain how solar intensity and the tilt of the Earth’s axis impact the distribution of sunlight on the Earth’s surface, including zenith angle, solar angle, and surface area.ESS.2.e

e
Use mathematics to explain how solar intensity and the tilt of the Earth’s axis impact the distribution of sunlight on the Earth’s surface, including zenith angle, solar angle, and surface area.ESS.2.e

Construct an evidence-based explanation of the connections among various cosmic phenomena, citing leading scientific theories. ESS.3.b

b
Construct an evidence-based explanation of the connections among various cosmic phenomena, citing leading scientific theories. ESS.3.b

Obtain and communicate information about Alabama's contributions to space exploration.ESS.3.c

c
Obtain and communicate information about Alabama's contributions to space exploration.ESS.3.c

Earth’s Systems

Composition of the Earth
Energy and Matter
1. 4
  Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the geologic conditions and processes that form different Earth materials.ESS.4
  a
  Plan and carry out investigations to explore the processes that form plutonic (intrusive) and volcanic (extrusive) igneous rocks of differing compositions and textures.ESS.4.a
Composition of the Earth
Cause and Effect
Earth’s History
Patterns
1. 5
  Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about major events in Earth’s history.ESS.5
  a
  Analyze and interpret data to sequence events in Earth’s history, including relative and absolute dating techniques, principles of superposition and crosscutting relationships, igneous intrusions, radiometric dating, and the fossil record.ESS.5.a
Earth’s History
Cause and Effect
Plate Tectonics
Patterns
1. 6
  Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the theory of plate tectonics.ESS.6
Plate Tectonics
Stability and Change
Plate Tectonics
Systems and System Models
Weather
Cause and Effect
1. 7
  Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the role of energy transfer in wind, precipitation, cloud formation, and front formation.ESS.7
  a
  Obtain and communicate information to explain how water cycles through the atmosphere, including condensation, evaporation, clouds, types of precipitation, relative humidity, and dew point.ESS.7.a
Weather
Systems and System Models
Weather
Stability and Change
Climate and Severe Weather
Cause and Effect
1. 8
  Obtain and communicate information to explain different climate regions and their impact on patterns of severe weather.ESS.8
  a
  Analyze temperature and precipitation patterns related to factors that influence climate, including proximity to water, topography, elevation, latitude, and orographic effect.ESS.8.a
  b
  Analyze and interpret data to develop predictions about the formation of meteorological events.ESS.8.b
  c
  Communicate scientific information to explain the personal, local, and statewide implications of severe weather events in Alabama.ESS.8.c

Analyze and interpret data to explain the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering and erosion on Earth’s materials by wind, water, ice, and gravity.ESS.4.b

b
Analyze and interpret data to explain the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering and erosion on Earth’s materials by wind, water, ice, and gravity.ESS.4.b

Construct an explanation using evidence from experiments, models, or data of the processes that create and transform igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. ESS.4.c

c
Construct an explanation using evidence from experiments, models, or data of the processes that create and transform igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. ESS.4.c

Plan and conduct an investigation on water’s effect on surface and subsurface processes.ESS.4.d

d
Plan and conduct an investigation on water’s effect on surface and subsurface processes.ESS.4.d

Obtain and communicate information about significant geologic characteristics in Alabama and the southeastern United States.ESS.4.e

e
Obtain and communicate information about significant geologic characteristics in Alabama and the southeastern United States.ESS.4.e

Construct an explanation based on evidence of how catastrophic and long-term events have impacted life on Earth, including mass extinctions.ESS.5.b

b
Construct an explanation based on evidence of how catastrophic and long-term events have impacted life on Earth, including mass extinctions.ESS.5.b

Construct explanations from evidence of how the flow of energy through Earth's systems has changed over time.ESS.5.c

c
Construct explanations from evidence of how the flow of energy through Earth's systems has changed over time.ESS.5.c

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about important tectonic and geologic events that have occurred in Alabama over geologic time.ESS.5.d

d
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about important tectonic and geologic events that have occurred in Alabama over geologic time.ESS.5.d

Construct an evidence-based explanation of continental drift, basing conclusions on comparisons of coastlines, fossils, ages of rocks, climate, and magnetic patterns.ESS.6.a

a
Construct an evidence-based explanation of continental drift, basing conclusions on comparisons of coastlines, fossils, ages of rocks, climate, and magnetic patterns.ESS.6.a

Construct an explanation, based on evidence, of tectonic plate movement, types of plate boundaries, and how boundary type relates to specific tectonic features, including mountain ranges, earthquakes, volcanism, volcanic islands, hotspots, mid-ocean ridges, and faults.ESS.6.b

b
Construct an explanation, based on evidence, of tectonic plate movement, types of plate boundaries, and how boundary type relates to specific tectonic features, including mountain ranges, earthquakes, volcanism, volcanic islands, hotspots, mid-ocean ridges, and faults.ESS.6.b

Develop and interpret a model of Earth’s internal structure and composition, including inner core, outer core, asthenosphere, lithosphere, mantle, and crust.ESS.6.c

c
Develop and interpret a model of Earth’s internal structure and composition, including inner core, outer core, asthenosphere, lithosphere, mantle, and crust.ESS.6.c

Analyze data to interpret seismic activity and assess the risk of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in Alabama and other areas in the United States.ESS.6.d

d
Analyze data to interpret seismic activity and assess the risk of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in Alabama and other areas in the United States.ESS.6.d

Plan and carry out an investigation to determine the differential heating of land and water and explain how these differences create changes in local and global weather.ESS.7.b

b
Plan and carry out an investigation to determine the differential heating of land and water and explain how these differences create changes in local and global weather.ESS.7.b

Construct an explanation of how air masses, source regions, fronts, weather changes associated with frontal passage (including cold, warm, occluded, and stationary fronts), air pressure, air density, temperature, cloud types, and precipitation are related to each other.ESS.7.c

c
Construct an explanation of how air masses, source regions, fronts, weather changes associated with frontal passage (including cold, warm, occluded, and stationary fronts), air pressure, air density, temperature, cloud types, and precipitation are related to each other.ESS.7.c

Use data to construct an explanation of the role of pressure differences in the development of wind systems.ESS.7.d

d
Use data to construct an explanation of the role of pressure differences in the development of wind systems.ESS.7.d

Analyze and interpret data to create a surface map, including high-pressure and low-pressure systems, isobars, wind barbs, cloud types, precipitation, and fronts. ESS.7.e

e
Analyze and interpret data to create a surface map, including high-pressure and low-pressure systems, isobars, wind barbs, cloud types, precipitation, and fronts. ESS.7.e

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12
Where can I read the official document?: 2023 Alabama Course of Study: Science

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