Intro Lesson on Organization
7/8 Life Science
Mr. Castle
90 minutes
Standards:
SC8.1.1 Levels of Organization in Living Systems
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I can identify that all living things are made of cells.
I can identify the structure of organization in living systems starting from the lowest level to the
highest level. (atoms, molecules, cells, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations,
communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere)
SC8.1.4 Diversity of Organisms
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I can explain that there are various classification schemes that are used to divide the diversity of
organisms into groups that are being debated by scientists
Objectives:
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Research and present their findings. (definitions and examples of assigned levels)
Define the levels of organization in living systems. (notes)
Recognize where humans, both individuals and groups, fit into these levels of organization.
Essential Questions
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What is a _______? (Can you define these terms)
What are some examples pertaining to each level?
On which level do individual humans fit in?
Differentiation/Considerations:
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Talk shy students through what they’re going to say if they’re scared
Be respectful while others are presenting
If evolution comes up, be prepared to address it
Materials:
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Whiteboard/markers
Tape and cutouts of each level
Object students can hold while they teach
Catch: (5 minutes)
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Video: The World Is Just Awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_f98qOGY0
This video isn’t especially educational, but it serves two purposes.
o To break the ice because it’s my first day
o Introduce the idea that our world is very diverse, and the people that live on it are equally
diverse. What makes us us?
Agenda: (75 minutes)
(15 minutes) Not doing this today.
1. Pre-test – attached.
2. Explain that this will not be graded, it’s just so I can reference what we’ve learned.
2. (2 minutes)
1. Assign one level of Organization to each student. Here they are in order of smallest to
largest.
 Atoms (smallest and simplest and there are the most of them. Goes on the
bottom of the pyramid – largest portion)
 molecules
 cells
 tissues
 organs
 organ systems
 organisms
 populations
 communities
 ecosystems
 biomes
 Biosphere (largest and the most complex. Goes on the top of the pyramid)
1.
(15 minutes)
1. Students will research (text book, internet as resources) their level and look for a
definition and example of each. Have students write these down on a piece of paper.
They will present them afterwards. Definitions and examples are attached if they’re
having trouble.
 While students are researching, draw a pyramid on the board with 12 unlabeled
horizontal sections. Next to the pyramid, tape the names of each level on the
board. After their presentations, we’ll work through where each goes on the
pyramid. These are attached at the end of the lesson.
4. (20 minutes – 2 minutes each)
 Individuals will present their findings to the class. Have the other students take notes on
each.
5. (15 minutes)
 Putting together the pyramid.
 Have students work in groups of 2-3 and have them try to figure out how the
pyramid is set up.
3.
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When everyone is done or has an idea, work together as a class to fit each level
into the pyramid.
Refer to essential questions as you go through the pyramid.
The key is the list in step one, with atoms at the bottom (there are the most of
them). The more complex each level becomes, the fewer there are until there is
only one biosphere at the top of the pyramid.
Assessment: (15 minutes)
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If there’s a general understanding of why the pyramid is constructed the way it is,
distribute the writing assignment and clearly explain the directions.
While students are writing, go around and check to see if they took notes (definitions,
examples, and where a human fits in). This will count as participation (5 pts).
Review: (10 minutes)
Go around the class, have each student give an example that hasn’t been said of any one of the levels of
the pyramid.
atoms
molecules
cells
tissues
organs
organsystems
organisms
populations
communities
eosystems
biomes
biosphere
Name _________________
Extension – Writing Assignment (10 pts)
Directions: In the space below, answer the following question in 2-3 paragraphs.
Question:
Are the levels of organization dependent on each other? Why or why
not? Please give examples.
Levels of Organization – Reference Sheet
1. Atoms: Smallest unit of matter. 98% of the body weight of organisms is made up of only
six elements. These elements are listed in the periodic table with the measurements given
based on one atom. Examples: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and
sulfur.
2. Molecules: In living things, atoms join to form molecules. In humans, one of the
molecules that is formed is called DNA or Deoxyribonucleic Acid.
3. Cells: the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Some examples of cells
are nerve cells and brain cells.
4. Tissue: made up of similar cells that combine to perform a function. Some examples of
tissues are nerve tissue, muscle tissue, and brain tissue.
5. Organs: just as similar cells combine to make tissues, so do similar tissues combine to
make organs. Some examples that students may write on their pyramid are the brain,
skin, stomach etc.
6. Organ System: the result of several organs working together to perform a function. Some
examples that students may write on their pyramid are the digestive system, nervous
system and cardiovascular system.
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These are all a part of us
7. Organism: Any adjoining system that can sustain life. Organisms can be unicellular or
multicellular. They include prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals, and that are
further subdivided based on common ancestry and homology of anatomic and molecular
structures. Examples: humans, walleye, giraffe.
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We’re a part of all of those
8. Population: A group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular geographic
area. Populations may be relatively small and closed, as on an island or in a valley, or
they may be more diffuse and without a clear boundary between them and a neighboring
population of the same species. For species that reproduce sexually, the members of a
population interbreed either exclusively with members of their own population or, where
populations intergrade, to a greater degree than with members of other populations
Examples: This classroom, elk in a forest
9. Community: A group of organisms or populations living and interacting with one
another in a particular environment. The organisms in a community affect each other's
abundance, distribution, and evolutionary adaptation. Depending on how broadly one
views the interaction between organisms, a community can be small and local, as in a
pond or tree, or regional or global, as in a biome. Examples: Fish in a lake.
10. Ecosystem: A community of organisms together with their physical environment, viewed
as a system of interacting and interdependent relationships and including such processes
as the flow of energy through trophic levels and the cycling of chemical elements and
compounds through living and nonliving components of the system. Examples: Lake,
including plants and nonliving components. Section of forest including all living and
non-living things.
11. Biome: A biome is a large geographical region with plants and animals that are able to
live in that location with its particular climate because they have adapted in different
ways to the amounts of water, heat, and soil in that area.
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Terrestrial biomes, typically defined by their climate and dominant vegetation,
include grassland, tundra, desert, tropical rainforest, and deciduous and
coniferous forests. There are two basic aquatic biomes, freshwater and marine,
which are sometimes further broken down into categories such as lakes and rivers
or pelagic, benthic, and intertidal zones.
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Ecosystem is much small than a biome (as small as an aquarium).
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Biome can be thought of as many similar ecosystems throughout the world
grouped together – forests have many small ecosystems (like a rotting log). All
of these are still part of one biome – deciduous forest.
12. Biosphere: global sum of all ecosystems – zone of life on earth. Entire earth and the
living organisms that inhabit it.
Levels of Organization
Name ________________
Directions: Match each level of organization with its respective example.
ITEM
NEEDED
Atom
Respiratory System
Molecule
Several Muscle Cells
Cell
Giraffe
Tissue
Rain Forest Vegetation
Organ
Pond (including living and non-living components)
Organ system
The plants and animals that live in a pond
Organism
Hydrogen
Population
Water
Community
Heart
Ecosystem
Basic structure/unit of all living organisms
Biome
Global sum of all ecosystems
Biosphere
Colony of ants living in an anthill
Levels of Organization (KEY)
Name ________________
Directions: Match each level of organization with its respective example.
ITEM
NEEDED
Atom
Respiratory System
Molecule
Several Muscle Cells
Cell
Giraffe
Tissue
Rain Forest Vegetation
Organ
Pond (including living and non-living components)
Organ system
The plants and animals that live in a pond
Organism
Hydrogen
Population
Water
Community
Heart
Ecosystem
Basic structure/unit of all living organisms
Biome
Global sum of all ecosystems
Biosphere
Colony of ants living in an anthill