MS-LS4-2 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity Science Phenomena
Human-Crafted Phenomena for the NGSS
Not all assessments are created equal. Unlike generic question banks or AI-generated items, InnerOrbit’s MS-LS4-2 content is built by a team of teachers and science leaders who deeply understand the NGSS and the realities of today’s classrooms.
Why Do These Snakes Have Secret Legs?
How Do We Know Graceful Gallops Evolved From Tiny Trots?
Why Do Whales Have Hip Bones?
How Can We Tell If Birds And Bats Are Close Cousins or Distant Relatives?
Why Don't These Fish Have Eyeballs?
Performance Expectation MS-LS4-2
Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.
What Makes Our Content Different?
Expertly Crafted, Not Auto-Generated
Every question and phenomenon for MS-PS3-1 is thoughtfully designed by educators. Our team ensures each item encourages authentic sensemaking rather than surface-level recall.
Discreetly Tagged for Rich Data
Each question is carefully tagged by dimension (DCI, SEP, CCC) and other criteria, producing detailed reports that highlight where students are thriving and where they need support.
Tailored to Match Your Curriculum
We spend time aligning our questions to different district curricula and instructional needs, so teachers can integrate them seamlessly into their classroom flow.
Actionable, Not Just Informative
Our assessments don’t just give scores — they generate instructionally useful data that helps teachers make smarter, more frequent adjustments.
Try out InnerOrbit
Sign up for a free trial and explore our library of over 9,000 phenomena-driven assessment items, and highly scaffolded NGSS Assessments for grades 3–12.
The Three Tools That Power InnerOrbit
InnerOrbit is built around three interconnected tools that help educators assess, analyze, and support NGSS learning in the classroom. Together, they create a complete system for sensemaking and instructional growth.
Assessments
Discover a library of rigorously designed NGSS assessments that make sensemaking the priority.
- Hundreds of real-world phenomena that spark curiosity
- Thousands of 3D-aligned questions designed for diagnostic, formative, and summative use
- Ready-to-use Pre-Made Assessments for quick classroom deployment
Reports
Turn student work into meaningful, actionable data.
- Performance broken down by dimension (SEP, DCI, CCC)
- Data that aligns with state test results at a 97% rate
- Insightful reporting that supports frequent instructional change
Activities
Support learning with classroom-ready activities that give students hands-on practice with NGSS sensemaking.
- Sensemaking Practice Activity Guides to connect phenomena with classroom discussion
- Structured opportunities for students to practice thinking like scientists
- Activities that reinforce skills for both assessments and state tests