C-4 N.12.A 1-6 N.12.B.1-4 Scientific Literacy/ Nature of (embedded throughout course) Scientific Inquiry is the process by which humans systematically examine the natural world. Scientific inquiry is a human endeavor and involves observation, reasoning, insight, energy, skill, and creativity. Scientific inquiry is used to formulate and test explanations of nature through observation, experiments and theoretical or mathematical models. Scientific explanations and evidence are constantly reviewed and examined by others. Questioning, response to criticism and open communication are integral to the process of science. 1. Why is it important to be scientifically literate? 2. Why is it important to be able to analyze data and draw conclusions? answer questions about data and produce charts, illustrations and/or graphs from data. record an investigation which includes a purpose, results, and analysis perform a scientific investigation Purpose Hypothesis Results Analysis Data table Graph Scientific Literacy Competency Lab investigations Scientific Literacy Competency Douglas County School District Page 1 DRAFT April 2010
L.12.C.1-4 Ecology / Organisms and their Environment A variety of ecosystems and communities exist on Earth. Ecosystems are dynamic interactions of organisms and their environment. Ecosystems have distinct characteristics and components that allow certain organisms to thrive. Change in one of more components can affect the entire ecosystem. What is the relationship between matter, energy and living organisms within an ecosystem? How does the environment affect the biological characteristics of Nevada s bioregions (Mojave desert and Great Basin desert)? describe how organisms relate to their physical environment. describe factors that affect biodiversity. Students will know that the amount of resources is limited and impacts the carrying capacity (or amount) of all organisms in the ecosystem. Ecosystem/ Biome / Bioregion Population Community Biodiversity Carrying capacity Limiting factor Energy pyramid Food Web /diagrams Ecology/ field study labs Carrying capacity/population study Biology common describe the characteristics of Nevada s bioregions. Douglas County School District Page 2 DRAFT April 2010
L.12.B.1-3 Cells / Structure of Life All living things are composed of cells. Cells can range from very simple to very complex and have structures which perform functions for the organism. Cells and cell structures can be damaged or fail because of intrinsic failures or disease. What are the parts of a cell and what functions do they have? How are living things organized from the cells level through the organism level? How are cells affected by disease? describe cell structures and functions. describe the hierarchy of organization from cell to tissue to organ to organ system to organism. describe how disease disrupts the equilibrium of healthy organisms. Cell Cell Theory Organelle Prokaryote Eukaryote Organ Tissue Cell Cycle (mitosis) Cell observation lab (microscope) Osmosis/diffusion lab Cell (drawings, analogies, models) Cell cycle lab and Disease activity Biology common Dissections Enzyme labs Photosynthesis/ Respiration Labs) Douglas County School District Page 3 DRAFT April 2010
L.12.A.1-5 Heredity Heredity is the genetic passing of a set of instructions from generation to generation. These instructions are encoded as DNA and may manifest themselves as characteristics. Some characteristics are inherited, and some result from interactions with the environment What is heredity? How do genetics and environment impact the characteristics of organisms? describe DNA and how it is passed down from parent to offspring. Student will be able to describe how DNA is used to assemble proteins. describe how all body cells in an organism have the same DNA. describe cell differentiation. DNA Genes Chromosomes Heredity Transcription Translation Amino Acid Punnett s square Genotype Phenotype Meiosis Gamete Mutation Somatic cell Sex cell DNA model Transcription/Translation Punnett Square practice Genotype to phenotype (ex: make a face) Family Pedigree Karotype See Assessment Document describe causes and effects of somatic (body cell) and sex cell mutations. Genetic disease poster Meiosis microscope viewing lab) predict patterns of inheritance. Douglas County School District Page 4 DRAFT April 2010
L.12.D.1-6 Evolution / Diversity of Live / Classification Evidence suggests that living things change over periods of time. These changes can be attributed to genetic and/or environmental influences. This process of change over time is called biological evolution. The Diversity of life on Earth is classified using objective characteristics. Scientific classification uses a hierarchy of groups and subgroups based on similarities that reflect evolutionary relationships. How does evolution explain how genetics and environmental influences cause organisms to change over time? How are evolutionary relationships used to classify organisms into groups and subgroups? classify organisms based on evolutionary relationships. describe how similarities in DNA provide evidence of relationships. describe how the fossil record provides evidence for natural selection. describe extinction as a natural process. Students will be able describe how biological evolution explains diversity of life. distinguish between artificial and natural extinction. Evolution Natural Selection Artificial Selection Variation Diversity Extinction Natural selection Classification (including the use of a dichotomous key) Kingdom studies Dissections Bacteria labs Yeast labs Botany labs) See common document Douglas County School District Page 5 DRAFT April 2010