7 th Grade Life Science Essential Questions: 1. How do the structures of organisms contribute to life s functions? 2. How do matter and energy move through individual organisms and ecosystems? 3. How does genetic variation among organisms in species affect survival and reproduction? From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes Anchor Standard 1: Students will analyze how organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce. MS-LS1-1: Students will conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells. characteristics of life types of cells microscopic multicellular unicellular prokaryotic eukaryotic all living things cannot be seen by the naked eye. engineering advances have led to important discoveries (i.e microscopes). conduct investigation using a microscope to observe cells. distinguish between living/nonliving. Board Adopted June 27, 2016 1
MS-LS1-2: Students will develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function. Organelles nucleus chloroplasts mitochondria cell membrane cell wall the structure of cell parts is related to function. develop and use models to show how cell parts work together. distinguish between plant and animal cells. MS-LS1-3: Students will use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. levels of organization tissue organ organ system organism circulatory excretory digestive respiratory muscular nervous each body system has a particular function. subsystems work together to function as a system. use argument based on evidence to support how systems work together in an organism. Board Adopted June 27, 2016 2
MS-LS1-4: Students will use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively. parts of plants/flowers asexual vs. sexual reproduction natural selection adaptations stamen pistil stigma migration plants have traits to ensure survival of species. animal behaviors affect a species ability to survive. use oral or written argument to prove that animal behaviors affect survival. use oral or written argument to demonstrate that specialized plant structures increase survival rates. Board Adopted June 27, 2016 3
MS-LS1-5: Students will construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms. reactants and products of photosynthesis examples of transfer of energy radiant energy chemical energy chlorophyll chloroplast plants change radiant energy to chemical energy. matter and energy are exchanged in photosynthesis. explain how energy flows in and out of organisms. cite evidence to communicate the scientific explanation of the change of matter and energy through photosynthesis. MS-LS1-6: Students will develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism. cellular respiration conservation of matter and energy matter and energy are not created or destroyed. molecules are broken apart and put together to release energy. use evidence to communicate the scientific explanation of the change of matter and energy through cellular respiration. (Ex. CO 2 and bromthymol blue) Board Adopted June 27, 2016 4
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics Anchor Standard 2: Students will explain how and why organisms interact with their environment and interpret the effects of those interactions. MS-LS2-1: Students will analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem. used by American Indians to maintain healthy relationships with environmental sources carrying capacity abiotic biotic limiting factors riparian, forest, desert, grassland, mountain, marine, freshwater populations are dependent on biotic and abiotic factors. (Cause and Effect) competition for food, water, oxygen limits growth and reproduction. collect data to determine carrying capacity. (i.e. How many bears can live in this forest? Project Wild) interpret/analyze results. defend how limiting factors affect animal populations. Board Adopted June 27, 2016 5
MS-LS2-2: Students will construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems. predator/prey, mutually beneficial, and competitive relationships predator prey patterns can be used to explain types of interactions. collect and/or analyze qualitative/quantitative data about populations. use data to make further predictions. i.e (All About Birds-Cornell, Hawk/field mouse activity, reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone, Macroinvertebrate Mayhem) MS-LS2-3: Students will develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. conservation of matter and energy food chain food web matter and energy are conserved in an ecosystem. develop a model that shows transfer of matter and energy in an ecosystem. decomposers producer consumer Board Adopted June 27, 2016 6
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits Anchor Standard 3: Students will describe how the characteristics of one generation are passed to the next and explain how individuals of the same species and even siblings can have different characteristics. MS-LS3-1: Students will develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation. examples of inherited traits mutation heredity traits genes proteins dominant recessive Punnett Square Chromosomes DNA protein synthesis many traits are inherited from parents. variations in traits result from sexual reproduction and mutations. changes in genetic material may result in making different proteins. changes in genetic material may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to structure and function of organism. develop and use a model to describe mutations. predict traits of offspring using a Punnett Square. Board Adopted June 27, 2016 7
Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity Anchor Standard 4: Students will explain the reasoning for so many similarities among organisms yet so many different kinds of plants, animals, and microorganisms. MS-LS4-1: Students will construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment. probability of survival natural selection adaptations populations patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships. natural selection leads to the predominance of certain traits in a population and the suppression of others analyze data from multiple sources to explain relationships between variables affecting natural selection. Board Adopted June 27, 2016 8