First Nine Weeks Life Science Guiding Question: How are plant and animal cells organized to carry on the processes of life? Standards Embedded GLEs 0407.1.1 Recognize that cells are the building blocks of all living things 0407 Inq. 2 Select and use appropriate tools and simple equipment to conduct an investigation. 0407.Inq. 6 compare the results of an investigation with what scientists already accept about this question. Unit 4.1.1 Cells 2 weeks Create a Venn Diagram to compare basic structures of plant and animal cells Compare and contrast the basic features of cells found in plant and animals. Create a chart to compare the basic features of plant and animal cells. Identify and explain the functions of basic cell parts. Analyze the results and draw conclusions based on evidence. Identify the structures that plants use to obtain their basic needs and explain the function of each. Using a microscope, to draw and label the organelles found in the leaf that provides the plant with its basic needs. Adopted FOSS: Structures of Life McGraw- Hill: Ch. 1.1 pg 22 1
Guiding Question: How do living things interact with one another and with the non-living elements of their environment? Standards Embedded GLEs GLE 0407.2.1 Analyze the effects of changes in the environment on the stability of an ecosystem. GLE 0407.3.1 Demonstrate that plants require light energy to grow and survive 0407GLE.3.2 Investigate different ways that organisms meet their energy needs 0407.Inq 4 Identify and interpret simple patterns of evidence to communicate the findings of multiple investigations GLE0407.Inq.1 Explore different scientific phenomena by asking question, making logical predictions, planning investigations, and recording data. GLE0407.Inq.6 Compare the results of an investigation with what scientists already accept about this question. GLE0407.Inq.3 Organize data into appropriate tables, graphs, drawings, or diagrams Adopted Unit 4.1.2 Energy from the Ecosystem 3 weeks Collect data from a variety of resources, analyze and draw conclusions about the effects of change in an ecosystem. Compare and contrast what is known about environmental changes to data collected to draw conclusions about its affect. Create a model or demonstration of how changes in the environment might affect the stability of the ecosystem. Identify ways that humans have affected the environmental instability. Design an experiment using variables that demonstrates plants require light for growth. Analyze the results and draw conclusions based on evidence. Identify the structures that plants use to obtain their basic needs and explain the function of each. Investigate and collect data on a variety of organisms to determine how they meet their energy needs. Analyze the results to provide evidence for a conclusion. Use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast how living things meet their needs. Create a food web or energy pyramid for a specific environment that explains how energy travels through an environment. Classify organisms as carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore. FOSS: Environments McGraw- Hill: Ch. 1.2 pg. 39 Ch. 1.3 pg. 50 Reading Street: Black Bears pg. 36 The Great Kapok Tree pg 364 Antarctic Journal pg 586 2
Guiding Question: What are the principle mechanisms by which living things reproduce and transmit information between parents and offspring? Standards Embedded GLEs Adopted GLE 0407.4.1 Recognize the relationship between reproduction and the continuation of species GLE 0407.4.2 Differentiate between complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Unit 4.1.3 Reproduction and Life Cycles 2 weeks GLE 0407.Inq.2 Select and use appropriate tools and simple equipment to conduct an investigation. GLE 0407.Inq.4 Identify and interpret simple patterns of evidence to communicate the findings of multiple investigations. GLE0407.Inq.1 Explore different scientific phenomena by asking question, making logical predictions, planning investigations, and recording data. Investigate the ways that plants disperse their seeds. Explain how the method used provides the means of continuing the species. Investigate using the effect of pollination on the continuation of a species. Compare the flowers of different plants looking for the structures that enable the species to reproduce. Design an investigation to make observations and collect data of organisms whose life cycles include complete and incomplete metamorphosis, such as mealworm, wax worm, milkweed bugs, cricket, pill bug, or other insects. Develop a logical argument why an organism s life cycle is either complete or incomplete metamorphosis. McGraw- Hill: Ch. 2.1 pg. 68 Ch. 2.2 pg. 80 3
Guiding Question: How does natural selection explain how organisms have changed over time? Standards Embedded GLEs GLE 0407.5.1 Analyze physical and behavioral adaptations that enable organisms to survive in their environment GLE 0407.5.2 Describe how environmental changes caused the extinction of various plant and animal species GLE0407.Inq.6 Compare the results of an investigation with what scientists already accept about this question. GLE 0407.T/E.1 Describe how tools, technology, and inventions help to answer questions and solve problems. GLE0407.Inq.3 Organize data into appropriate tables, graphs, drawings, or diagrams GLE0407.Inq.1 Explore different scientific phenomena by asking question, making logical predictions, planning investigations, and recording data. GLE 0407.Inq.2 Select and use appropriate tools and simple equipment to conduct an investigation. GLE 0407.Inq.4 Identify and interpret simple patterns of evidence to communicate the findings of multiple investigations. Adopted Unit 4.1.4 Adaptations and Extinction 2 weeks Classify animals according to their physical adaptations for obtaining food, oxygen, and surviving within a particular environment. Recognize an adaptation as being physical or behavioral. Design a simple experiment to determine how plants tropism enhances its ability to survive. Design simple experiments to demonstrate the adaptations found in plants and animals. Develop a logical argument for determining which type of adaptation, behavioral or physical would provide organisms an advantage in surviving a specific ecosystem. Use data on extinct plants and animals to draw conclusions as to the reason for their extinction. Investigate a specific organism by analyzing data to determine if the organism would be classified as thriving, endangered, or extinct. Identify, explain and provide examples of how environmental changes resulted in the extinction of a plant or animal species. Investigate an organism that has become extinct and determine the possible causes for their extinction FOSS: Environments McGraw- Hill: Ch. 3.1 pg. 98 Ch. 3.2 pg. 112 Ch. 3.3 pg. 120 Reading Street: Black Bears pg 36 Horned Lizards and Ants pg 108 Something must be done pg 293 Adelina s Whales pg 296 Sea Animals on Move pg 310 How Night Came from the Sea pg 318 Living in World of Green pg 380 Encantado pg 420 Mysterious Animals pg 436 Encyclopedia Brown pg 492 Antarctic Journal pg 586 4
Unit 4.1.2 Energy from the Ecosystem Unit 4.1.1 Cells TOOLBOX Present information in instructional map with the intention of students mastering guiding questions with possible charts, graphs and/or unique expression. Cells are the basic unit of life. Everything that is living began as a cell. What are plants and animal cells made of? Select and use appropriate tools to observe and explore the parts of plants and animals cells. How do plants and animal cells compare? Create/ Design a table that compares and contrasts plant cells and animal cells. Develop questions to be answered based on the table. www.kathimitchell.com s learn about how photosynthesis plays a vital role in plant survival. Predict and test what happens to a plant s leaves in the absence of light. Sun gives nutrients to plants and its role is monumental in the survival of all species. Design a model to show a balance between organisms and resources and show ways animals and plants can change the environment. How does light affect plants? Determine if plants need light to survive. What will happen to a plant s leaves if part of it was covered? Make a prediction and test the prediction by designing an experiment to observe and make a record of the observations. How can change in the ecosystem affect living things? Make a prediction about how will affect living things. Make a hypothesis and test the hypothesis by designing a model. ANOTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THIS SECTION FOUND UNDER TOOLBOX K-12 AT www.mcssciencedepartment.weebly.com password: energy 5
Unit 4.1.3 Reproduction and Life Cycles www.kathimitchell.com; www.neok12.com Explore the life cycle of a plant. Including reproduction. Classify to distinguish between plants and animals and different plants. Plants and animals reproduce and transmit hereditary information between generations. Explore how different organisms reproduce. Determine how reproduction helps a species survive. Design a poster to show how species will be affected if reproduction decreases using charts and/or table. Determine the importance of reproduction and its effect on the environment. How does change as it grows? Observe and record changes in a table show the occurrence of the change. Create a model as the change occurs for each day. Observe the process of metamorphosis and determine if the metamorphosis is complete or incomplete. Create a 3-D model to show the difference between complete and incomplete metamorphosis. ANOTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THIS SECTION FOUND UNDER TOOLBOX K-12 AT www.mcssciencedepartment.weebly.com password: energy http://www.slideshare.net/allsaintsscience/4th-grade-ch-2-lesson-3-how-do-plants-reproduce http://youatthezoo.org/videos-and-teacher-resources.html (Video 3) 6
Unit 4.1.4 Adaptations and Extinction Analyze physical and behavioral adaptations that enable organisms to survive in their environment. Animals develop certain characteristic suited to a particular environment. Determine how adapts to its environment and how will be affected if it is relocated to another environment. Design a model to show a before and after How do people adapt to changes in the environment? Give examples of how people have adapted to the environment throughout the years. What is adaptation? Determine ways in which an animal must adapt in order to survive. Form a hypothesis. Choose an animal to learn more about adaptation. How does an adaptation affect the ability of a predator to find a prey and vice versa? Research how the environment has changed over time and determine what happens in a changing environment. ANOTHER ACTIVITIES FOR THIS SECTION FOUND UNDER TOOLBOX K-12 AT www.mcssciencedepartment.weebly.com password: energy http://youatthezoo.org/videos-and-teacher-resources.html 7