---
title: 6-8.ESS2.C.1
description: 6-8.ESS2.C.1 Design and develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png
---

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# 6-8.ESS2.C.1

Design and develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.

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 Science & Engineering Practices

- [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models)
- [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations)
- [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions)
- [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence)
- [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information)

 Disciplinary Core Ideas

- [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate)
- [Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer](https://www.knowatom.com/conservation-of-energy-and-energy-transfer)

 Crosscutting Concepts

- [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns)
- [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect)

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## Browse 6-8.ESS2.C.1 Lesson Plans

Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-06-50-09-1556-AM.png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather)

## [Convection and Weather In this unit, students explore the phenomena of convection by discovering how heat is transferred from warmer locations to cooler locations, which is a major cause of weather and climate. This page is a high-level extract of a lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/convection-and-weather)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/glacier-motion>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(37).png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/glacier-motion)

## [Glacier Motion In this unit, students analyze the phenomena that have shaped Earth’s surface, analyzing how gravitational energy moves glaciers, which have sculpted the land over time. This page showcases elements of the first lesson which focuses on glacier motion.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/glacier-motion)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/glacier-motion)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/climate-analysis>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(38).png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/climate-analysis)

## [Climate Analysis In this unit, students focus on the phenomena of Earth’s ice as they model how glaciers shape Earth’s surface. In this lesson, they investigate how scientists use ice cores to reconstruct Earth’s past climates and environments. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/climate-analysis)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/climate-analysis)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-flow>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(59).png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-flow)

## [Groundwater Flow In this unit, students explore the science phenomena of Earth systems as they interact. Students do this by discovering the importance of water for life on Earth. In this lesson, students figure out groundwater flow by exploring the porosity and permeability of different Earth materials. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-flow)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-flow)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/the-water-cycle-and-earths-systems>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-08-2023-08-20-18-3788-PM.png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/the-water-cycle-and-earths-systems)

## [The Water Cycle and Earth's Systems In this unit, students explore the science phenomena of matter, energy, and heat transfer to explore weather and climate. In this lesson they investigate how the sun powers the global water cycle, which in turn has very local impacts that affect regional climates around the world. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/the-water-cycle-and-earths-systems)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/the-water-cycle-and-earths-systems)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/ocean-salinity-and-density>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-08-2023-08-20-13-1100-PM.png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/ocean-salinity-and-density)

## [Ocean Salinity and Density In this unit, students investigate the relationship between the water cycle, ocean salinity, weather, and climate. In this lesson, students explore ocean salinity and analyze how ocean density is related to its molecular structure. This page highlights key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/ocean-salinity-and-density)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/ocean-salinity-and-density)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earths-climate>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-08-20-15-5924-PM.png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earths-climate)

## [Earth’s Climate In this unit, students build on their scientific knowledge about matter, energy, and heat transfer to explore science phenomena related to weather and climate. They investigate how the sun powers the global water cycle, which in turn has very local impacts that affect the phenomena of regional climates around the world. This page showcases all the parts of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earths-climate)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earths-climate)

<https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials>

[![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-08-2023-08-40-03-9553-PM.png) 

](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials)

## [Earth Materials In this unit, students focus on the processes that cycle Earth materials, connecting the movement of water in the water cycle and wind with changes to Earth’s surface through weathering and erosion. In this lesson, students explore the science phenomena of how convection in Earth’s mantle causes the tectonic plates to move, creating many of Earth’s landforms. This page showcases key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials)

[ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-materials)

Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.

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