--- title: MS-ESS3-1 Lesson Plans | Uneven Distribution of Earth's Resources description: "MS-ESS3-1: Uneven Distribution of Earth's Resources Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes." image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # MS-ESS3-1: Uneven Distribution of Earth's Resources Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Asking questions and defining problems](https://www.knowatom.com/asking-questions-and-defining-problems) - [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 - [Natural Resources](https://www.knowatom.com/natural-resources) - [Structure and Properties of Matter](https://www.knowatom.com/structure-and-properties-of-matter) - [Chemical Reactions](https://www.knowatom.com/chemical-reactions) Crosscutting Concepts - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) - [Scale Proportion and Quantity](https://www.knowatom.com/scale-proportion-and-quantity) - [Structure and Function](https://www.knowatom.com/structure-and-function) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse MS-ESS3-1 Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(32).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-rock-cycle) ## [The Rock Cycle In this unit, students use what they know about the relationship between energy and matter to investigate phenomena of how energy powers the cycling of Earth materials. They begin with this lesson on modeling the Earth processes that form different kinds of rock. This page provides an overview of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-rock-cycle) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-rock-cycle) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(32).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/renewable-energy) ## [Renewable Energy In this unit, students explore the natural processes that cause Earth’s surface to change over time, analyzing how energy causes Earth’s matter to transform and cycle from one form to another. In this lesson, they trace phenomena of how energy is transferred in chemical reactions, which allows scientists to produce ethanol to use as an alternative energy source. This page showcases each component of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/renewable-energy) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/renewable-energy) [![](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/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(58).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-contamination) ## [Groundwater Contamination In this unit, This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-contamination) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/groundwater-contamination) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/landforms-book1.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-geologic-history) ## [Earth's Geologic History In this unit, students explore phenomena that change Earth’s surface over time, analyzing how weathering, erosion, and convection in the mantle are three phenomena that help to cycle Earth materials. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-geologic-history) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/earth-geologic-history) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Screenshot%20(33).webp) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/natural-resources) ## [Natural Resources In this unit, students use what they know about the relationship between energy and matter to investigate how energy powers the cycling of Earth materials. In this lesson, they analyze the phenomena of processes that form fossil fuels, which determine how these natural resources are distributed around the planet. This page highlights all the parts of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/natural-resources) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/natural-resources) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 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