7th Grade Life Science – Focal Points
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Scientific Investigation and Measurement-LS.1
 Use of metric units and knowledge of
prefixes
 Make accurate metric measurements
 Experimental design terms: independent
variable, dependent variable, hypothesis,
control and constants, repeated trials
 Interpretation of collected data
 Make and use scientific models
 Organize data into tables
 Construct, interpret, and use continuous line
graphs to make predictions
Characteristics of Living Things-LS.3
 Basic life functions: respiration, waste
disposal, growth, irritability and
reproduction, digestion
 Levels of organization: cell-tissue-organsystem-organism
Needs of Organisms-LS.4
 Plant needs: light, water, nutrients, gases,
space
 Animal needs: food, water, gases, shelter,
space
Cell Theory, History, Structure and Function-LS.2
 Cell Organelles and Functions: Nucleus, cell
membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole
 Differences between plant and animal cells
 Major points in and development of Cell
Theory
Cell Processes-LS.3. LS.6, LS.2
 Cellular transport: osmosis, diffusion, active
transport
 Basic life functions: respiration, waste
disposal, growth, irritability and
reproduction, digestion
 Plant and animal cellular respiration
 Photosynthesis is powered by the sun and is
the foundation for nearly all food webs
Reactants: Chlorophyll (in chloroplasts
in leaves), water (from roots), carbon dioxide
(from atmosphere)
Products: Oxygen and glucose (sugar as
stored chemical energy)
 Mitosis (cell division)
 Meiosis (sex cell production)
Genetics-LS.13
 Role of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
 Function of Chromosomes (strands of DNA)
 Function of Genes: carry genetic code
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Mendelian genetics: genotypes and
phenotypes, factors affecting gene
expression, characteristics that are
inheritable, dominant traits and recessive
traits
Genetic engineering and applications
History: Mendel, Franklin, Watson, Crick
Punnett Squares
Evolution-LS.14
 Evidence of Evolution: Fossil records,
radiometric dating, distribution of organisms,
genetic information, and anatomical
similarities across species
 Mutation (change in DNA)
 Adaptations (physical and behavioral)
 Natural selection (selection of the fittest)
 Extinction (termination of a species)
Classification of Organisms-LS.5, LS.6
 Six kingdoms: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria,
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
 Recognize main plant and animal phyla
 Recognize main plant phyla (delete)
 Kingdom-phylum-class-order-family-genusspecies
 Use classification keys
 Species: organisms that can interbreed and
produce fertile offspring
 Photosynthesis
Ecology-LS.10, LS.12, LS.9, LS.7, LS.11, LS.8
 Characteristics of Ecoystems: Terrestrial
(land), Fresh water, and Marine (saltwater)
 Biome (ecosystems with similar climate):
Tundra, coniferous forest, deciduous forest,
tropical rain forest, grassland, desert, marine,
and freshwater
 Recognize adaptations for organisms within
specific ecosystem
 Changes over Time and Human Impacts on
Ecosystems
 Changes can be daily, seasonal, or long term:
Hibernation, migration, dormancy, and
coloration, phototropism, climate changes,
pollution, catastrophic events, and
eutrophication
 Human activity: food production, habitat
quality, species competition, population
disturbances, environmental issues
 Levels of Organization: Organism,
population, community, ecosystem
 Interactions Within and Among Populations:
Competition, cooperation, hierarchy,
territory, niche, symbiotic relationships:
mutualism, commensalism, parasitism
7th Grade Life Science – Focal Points
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Energy Flow and Cycles: Cycles in nature:
Water, nitrogen and carbon
Food webs (combination of food chains) –
energy flow
Producers, Consumers, Herbivore, carnivore,
omnivore, decomposer
Energy pyramid (reduction of energy as you
go up the pyramid)
Predator/prey relationships