Introduction to Living Things Students will explore the characteristics of living things, life cycles, stimuli and behavior, and how organisms maintain homeostasis. Characteristics of Living Things differentiate between living and nonliving things based on characteristics common to living things, including growth and development, reproduction, cellular organization, use of energy, exchange of gases, and response to the environment. Title MSSC165 MSSC634 MSSC416 Characteristics of Living Things Authentic Task: Viruses Is It Alive? Lesson Quiz: Characteristics of Living Things
Life Cycles distinguish between the different life cycles of various organisms, including complete and incomplete metamorphosis and human life cycles. MSSC166 Life Cycles Title Stimuli and Behavior predict how an organism will change its behavior given an external stimulus. MSSC721 MSSC516 Authentic Task: Life Cycle Examples Odyssey Writer: Research a Life Cycle Lesson Quiz: Life Cycles Homeostasis of Organisms and Feedback predict how an organism's internal environment will respond given a stimulus. MSSC167 MSSC417 Stimuli and Behavior Pet Behavior Lesson Quiz: Stimuli and Behavior
MSSC168 Title Homeostasis of Organisms and Feedback Lesson Quiz: Homeostasis of Organisms and Feedback Cells Students will investigate cell theory, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cell structures, and basic functions such as photosynthesis, respiration, and homeostasis. Cell Theory explain the components of the scientific theory of cells (cell theory): all organisms are composed of cells (single celled or multicellular), all cells come from pre-existing cells, and cells are the basic unit of life. MSSC169 MSSC454 Cell Theory Stem Cells
MSSC560 Title Odyssey Writer: STEM Careers: Microbiologist Lesson Quiz: Cell Theory Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells describe the structure and function of the nucleus and distinguish between a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell. MSSC170 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Lesson Quiz: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Cell Structures describe the structure and function of cell membranes, cytoplasm, and mitochondria. MSSC171 MSSC561 Cell Structures Odyssey Writer: Research: Mitochondria Lesson Quiz: Cell Structures
Plant and Animal Cells describe the structure and function of cell walls, vacuoles, and chloroplasts, and distinguish between plant and animal cells. Title Photosynthesis explain how light energy is transferred to chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. MSSC172 MSSC418 MSSC517 Plant and Animal Cells Is This a Plant Cell or an Animal Cell? Odyssey Writer: Compare and Contrast: Plant and Animal Cells Lesson Quiz: Plant and Animal Cells MSSC173 MSSC722 MSSC455 Photosynthesis Authentic Task: Food from Sunlight What Would Earth Be Like Without Photosynthesis? Lesson Quiz: Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration describe and investigate how aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration breaks down food to provide energy and releases carbon dioxide. Title Homeostasis of Cells explain how cells of all organisms undergo similar processes to maintain homeostasis, including extracting energy from food, getting rid of waste, and reproducing. MSSC174 Cellular Respiration Lesson Quiz: Cellular Respiration MSSC175 MSSC562 Homeostasis in Cells Odyssey Writer: What Would the Cell Do? Lesson Quiz: Homeostasis of Cells
Unicellular and Multicellular Organisms Students will compare cells to organisms, and explore the similarities and differences between unicellular and multicellular organisms. Cells and Organisms Unicellular Organisms compare life processes (e.g. growth, digestion) at the organism level with life processes at the cellular level. MSSC176 identify unicellular organisms, including bacteria and protists, by their methods of locomotion, reproduction, ingestion, excretion, and effects on other organisms. MSSC177 MSSC723 Title Comparing Cells and Organisms Lesson Quiz: Cells and Organisms Unicellular Organisms Authentic Task: Malaria Lesson Quiz: Unicellular Organisms
Multicellular Organisms compare and contrast unicellular and multicellular organisms. MSSC178 MSSC419 Title Multicellular Organisms Compare and Contrast: Unicellular vs. Multicellular Lesson Quiz: Multicellular Organisms Ecology Students will explore topics in ecology, including Earth's biomes, the importance of biodiversity, ecosystems, biotic and abiotic factors, habitats and niches, and how organisms interact. Earth's Biomes describe characteristics of Earth's major terrestrial and aquatic biomes. MSSC179 Biomes
MSSC724 MSSC725 MSSC726 MSSC727 MSSC728 MSSC729 MSSC730 MSSC731 MSSC456 Title Authentic Task: Tropical Rainforest Authentic Task: Temperate Forest Authentic Task: Savannah Authentic Task: Desert Authentic Task: Mountain Authentic Task: Tundra Authentic Task: Freshwater Authentic Task: Ocean Protecting Earth's Biomes Biodiversity describe the importance of biodiversity and major threats to biodiversity. Lesson Quiz: Earth's Biomes MSSC457 MSSC180 Should We Prevent Living Things from Becoming Extinct? Importance of Biodiversity
MSSC732 MSSC563 Title Authentic Task: STEM Careers: Conservation Biologist Odyssey Writer: Researching Biodiversity Lesson Quiz: Biodiversity Ecosystems distinguish between the biosphere, ecosystems, communities, populations, and organisms. MSSC181 MSSC564 Ecosystems Odyssey Writer: How Do an Ecosystem and Its Communities Interact? Lesson Quiz: Ecosystems Biotic and Abiotic Factors distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. MSSC182 Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems
Habitats and Niches differentiate between habitats and niches. MSSC565 MSSC458 MSSC183 MSSC733 MSSC459 Title Odyssey Writer: What Happens When Factors Change? Lesson Quiz: Biotic and Abiotic Factors Where Do Animals Live? Habitats and Niches Authentic Task: Extreme Habitats Living Things That Depend on One Another Relationships Between Organisms compare and contrast the relationships among organisms such as mutualism, predation, parasitism, competition, and commensalism. Lesson Quiz: Habitats and Niches MSSC184 MSSC734 Relationships Between Organisms Authentic Task: Lichen
MSSC735 MSSC566 Title Authentic Task: Amazing Parasites Odyssey Writer: Research a Symbiotic Relationship Lesson Quiz: Relationships Between Organisms Population Ecology Students will explore topics in population biology, including limiting factors, carrying capacity, population interactions, producers, consumers, decomposers, energy flow, and succession. Limiting Factors in an Ecosystem identify and describe the effects of limiting factors on a given population and evaluate the carrying capacity of an ecosystem. MSSC185 MSSC460 Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity A Carrying Capacity Scenario
Population Interactions predict the impact of changes in a species population on an ecosystem. MSSC461 Title Lesson Quiz: Limiting Factors in an Ecosystem What Happens When There Are Too Many Rabbits? Producers and Photosynthesis describe how radiant energy from the Sun drives much of the flow of energy throughout living systems due to the process of photosynthesis in organisms described as producers. MSSC186 MSSC567 MSSC187 Interactions Between Populations Odyssey Writer: Case Study: the Kaibab Deer Lesson Quiz: Population Interactions Producers and Photosynthesis Lesson Quiz: Producers and Photosynthesis
Consumers distinguish consumers from other organisms. MSSC188 MSSC462 Title Consumers Examples of Consumers Lesson Quiz: Consumers Decomposers distinguish decomposers from other organisms. MSSC189 Decomposers Lesson Quiz: Decomposers Energy in Ecosystems analyze the flow of energy through an ecosystem by creating food webs, food chains, and energy pyramids. MSSC190 MSSC568 Energy in Ecosystems Odyssey Writer: Describing the Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Lesson Quiz: Energy in Ecosystems
Matter in Ecosystems diagram the flow of matter through ecosystems, including the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. MSSC191 MSSC463 Title Matter in Ecosystems How Do We Know Matter Moves Through Ecosystems? Ecological Succession define ecological succession and sequence the process of succession in a given ecosystem. Lesson Quiz: Matter in Ecosystems MSSC192 MSSC569 Ecological Succession Odyssey Writer: The Changing Face of the Forest Lesson Quiz: Ecological Succession
Genetics Title Students will investigate how organisms pass on their genes. Topics include reproduction, mitosis and meiosis, genotypes and phenotypes, Punnett squares, genetic disorders, and selective breeding. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction compare and contrast asexual and sexual reproduction. MSSC193 MSSC736 Sexual and Asexual Reproduction Authentic Task: Engineering and Technology: Cloning Lesson Quiz: Sexual and Asexual Reproduction Heredity, Genes, and Chromosomes define heredity and explain the role of genes and chromosomes in the process of inheriting a specific trait. MSSC464 Where Do You Get Your Traits From?
MSSC194 MSSC737 Title Heredity, Genes, and Chromosomes Authentic Task: STEM Careers: Forensic Scientist Lesson Quiz: Heredity, Genes, and Chromosomes Mitosis describe how cells divide to increase their numbers through the process of mitosis, and sequence the steps of mitosis. Meiosis contrast the processes of mitosis and meiosis in relation to growth, repair, reproduction, and heredity. MSSC195 MSSC738 MSSC196 MSSC570 Mitosis Authentic Task: Cell Cultures - HeLa and Henrietta Lacks Lesson Quiz: Cell Reproduction Meiosis Odyssey Writer: Summarizing Meiosis
Genotypes and Phenotypes identify the phenotype of an organism based on its genotype. MSSC465 MSSC197 MSSC739 Title What Happens if There Is an Error in Meiosis? Lesson Quiz: Meiosis Genotypes and Phenotypes Authentic Task: Gregor Mendel Lesson Quiz: Genotypes and Phenotypes Predicting Inheritance use a monohybrid Punnett square to predict the probability of traits passed from parents to offspring. MSSC198 MSSC518 Punnett Squares and Genetic Crosses Odyssey Writer: Completing a Punnett Square Lesson Quiz: Predicting Inheritance
Genetic Disorders distinguish between genetic disorders due to errors in meiosis and those due to combinations of genes from each parent. Title DNA Selective Breeding compare and contrast DNA and RNA. describe how organisms can be selectively bred for particular traits. MSSC199 MSSC200 MSSC635 MSSC201 MSSC571 Genetic Disorders Lesson Quiz: Genetic Disorders DNA Authentic Task: Discovery of DNA Lesson Quiz: DNA Selective Breeding Odyssey Writer: Selection of Plants for Food MSSC636 Authentic Task: Genetic Engineering Lesson Quiz: Selective Breeding
Evolution Title Students will explore the theory of evolution. Topics include the diversity of life, mutation, variation, adaptation, natural selection, evidence for evolution, tree diagrams, and extinction. Evolution and Diversity describe how organisms can change over time in response to environmental factors. MSSC466 MSSC202 MSSC740 What Have You Heard About Evolution? Evolution and Diversity Authentic Task: Tree of Life Lesson Quiz: Evolution and Diversity
Mutation and Variation describe how mutation causes variation in a population, and how species vary based on factors such as climate, changing landforms, interspecies interaction, and genetic mutation. Title MSSC203 MSSC467 Mutation and Variation How Are Humans Varied? Adaptation differentiate between physical and behavioral adaptations in a variety of organisms. MSSC572 MSSC468 MSSC204 Odyssey Writer: Consequences of Isolated Populations Lesson Quiz: Mutation and Variation What Makes This Animal Adapted to Its Environment? Adaptation
MSSC573 Title Odyssey Writer: How Are Organisms Adapted to Their Environments? Lesson Quiz: Adaptation Natural Selection explain how reproductive success coupled with advantageous traits over many generations contributes to natural selection. MSSC741 MSSC469 MSSC205 MSSC742 MSSC470 MSSC471 Authentic Task: Darwin's Theory of Evolution Through Natural Selection Darwin and Wallace: Who Should Get the Credit? Natural Selection Authentic Task: Natural Selection What Happens to a Species When the Environment Changes? Island Organisms
Evidence for Evolution describe how fossil evidence and comparative anatomy provide evidence for evolution. Title Lesson Quiz: Natural Selection Evolutionary Trees construct a simple branching diagram to classify living groups of organisms by shared derived characteristics and expand the diagram to include fossil organisms. MSSC206 MSSC743 Evidence for Evolution Authentic Task: STEM Careers: Evolutionary Biologist Lesson Quiz: Evidence for Evolution MSSC207 MSSC744 Evolutionary Trees Authentic Task: Human Evolutionary Tree
MSSC472 Title Why Is it Misleading to Say That Humans Evolved from Chimpanzees? Classification Students will explore how organisms can be classified. Topics include domains and kingdoms and dichotomous keys. Extinction Domains and Kingdoms explain why the extinction of a species may occur when the environment changes. describe how living things are classified into domains and kingdoms. MSSC208 MSSC745 Lesson Quiz: Evolutionary Trees Extinction Authentic Task: Death of the Dinosaurs Lesson Quiz: Extinction MSSC420 MSSC209 MSSC746 Why Classify? Domains and Kingdoms Authentic Task: Bizarre Bacteria
MSSC637 Title Authentic Task: Domains of Life Classification of Life analyze how organisms can be classified by family, genus, and species. MSSC519 Odyssey Writer: Kingdoms vs. Domains? Lesson Quiz: Domains and Kingdoms Dichotomous Keys classify an organism based on its physical characteristics using a dichotomous key. MSSC210 Classification of Life Lesson Quiz: Classification of Life MSSC211 MSSC473 Dichotomous Keys Practice With Classification MSSC574 Odyssey Writer: Describe a Classification System Lesson Quiz: Dichotomous Keys
Organs and Organ Systems Students will explore the levels of organization within living things with special focus on human body systems. Levels of Organization in Living Things distinguish between cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. MSSC212 Title Levels of Organization in Living Things Lesson Quiz: Organization in Living Things Integumentary System Skeletal and Muscular Systems relate the structure and function of the integumentary system. relate the structure and function of the skeletal and muscular systems. MSSC474 MSSC213 MSSC575 Why Are Muscles, Skin, and Bones Important? Integumentary System Odyssey Writer: Skin Cancer Lesson Quiz: Integumentary System
Circulatory System Respiratory System relate the structure and function of the circulatory system. relate the structure and function of the respiratory system. MSSC214 MSSC638 MSSC215 MSSC747 MSSC216 MSSC576 Title Skeletal and Muscular Systems Authentic Task: Joints Lesson Quiz: Skeletal and Muscular Systems Circulatory System Authentic Task: STEM Careers: Heart Surgeon Lesson Quiz: Circulatory System Respiratory System Odyssey Writer: Smoking Digestive System relate the structure and function of the digestive system. MSSC217 MSSC748 Lesson Quiz: Respiratory System Digestive System Authentic Task: Gut Bacteria! Lesson Quiz: Digestive System
Excretory System relate the structure and function of the excretory system. Nervous System Endocrine System Reproductive Systems relate the structure and function of the nervous system. relate the structure and function of the endocrine system. relate the structure and function of the reproductive system. MSSC218 MSSC219 MSSC749 MSSC220 MSSC221 Title Excretory System Lesson Quiz: Excretory System Nervous System Authentic Task: The Human Brain Lesson Quiz: Nervous System Endocrine System Lesson Quiz: Endocrine System Reproductive Systems
MSSC750 Title Authentic Task: Engineering and Technology: In Vitro Fertilization Disease and the Immune System relate the structure and function of the immune system. MSSC475 Lesson Quiz: Reproductive Systems A Time When You Were Sick MSSC222 MSSC751 Disease and the Immune System Authentic Task: HIV/AIDS Lesson Quiz: Disease and the Immune System Human Health Students will explore what factors impact human health, and how to stay healthy.
Staying Healthy distinguish between communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and describe factors that affect the length and quality of human life. MSSC752 Title Authentic Task: Nutrition Plants Students will explore plant structures, life functions, and how plants reproduce. Plant Structures relate the structure and function of leaves, stems, and roots. MSSC224 MSSC753 MSSC520 Plant Structures Authentic Task: Amazing Plants Odyssey Writer: Vegetable Function and Structure Plant Reproduction describe how flowering plants reproduce and how tropism effects the growth of seedlings. Lesson Quiz: Plant Structures
MSSC225 MSSC754 Title Plant Reproduction Authentic Task: Pollination Lesson Quiz: Plant Reproduction