SPB 10-1-2010
Achievement Scale
Grade Level: 11th and 12th
Content Area: Zoology
Unit 1: Evolution and Ecology
Learning Goals:
 The student will understand the basic principles of Darwin’s Theory of Natural selection. (p121)
 The student will understand adaptations in terms of natural selection
 The student will explain how competition drives evolutionary change.
 The student will discuss the role a niche plays with respect to competition
Score 4: Student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications of the learning goal(s) and can reconstruct
and apply their knowledge from limited information:
The student:
 Can design an organism, including its environment, and explain how their organism is well suited to the
created environment including at least 4-6 adaptations.
 Can describe and provide examples of co-evolution and its impact on species interactions including:
predation, competition, and mutualism.
 Can create a food web explain the role of the apex predators in an ecosystem.
 Can classify organisms as r or K strategists and justify your response with at least 3 criteria.
Score 3: Student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the learning goal(s) that were explicitly
taught:
The student:
 Can, given a particular environmental conditions, choose an animal from this environment and explain
how natural selection has helped it evolve helpful adaptations.
 Can, given a description of a particular organism, identify its type of defense mechanism and explain
why the mechanism helps the animal survive.
 Can distinguish between intra-specific and inter-specific competition and discuss their role in natural selection.
 Can discuss the flow of food energy in an ecosystem using a food web and food pyramid. (10%)
 Can discuss how species interactions drive evolutionary change.
 Can explain the advantages and disadvantages of r and K strategies for survival of a species.
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SPB 10-1-2010
Score 2: The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes
that support the learning goal(s).
The student :
 Can define natural selection and provide an example of how the environment has impacted the
evolution of an animal.
 Can define the different types of defense mechanisms and state at least one example of each.
 Can define competition and provide examples of at least 3-4 different resources (habitat, food, ..)
 Can define the components of a food web based on feeding behaviors.
 Can define and identify different types of interactions that animals have with one another.
 Can state the key characteristics of r and K strategists.
Score 1: With help (being given word banks, manipulated equations, retakes), the student demonstrates a partial
understanding of the simpler details and processes that support the learning goal(s) stated for a Score of 2.
Score 0: Even with help, no success
Score 4 Example Assessment Items:
Academic Vocabulary:
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1.
Design a food web using organisms found in a
savannah.
2. Explain co-evolution using 2 organisms.
Score 3 Example Assessment Items:
1. Name an organism that uses cryptic coloration and
explain how it benefits the organism.
2. Explain the pyramid of energy.
3. Explain the benefits of being an r and K strategists.
Score 2 Example Assessment Items
1. Using the concept of natural selection, explain how
the cheetah has evolved over time.
2. Walleye – r or K strategists?
3. A change in the genetic code is known as ___ .
4. What is the niche of the warbler?
5. Organisms that make their own food are known as
___ .
District Mission:
Every student. Every day.
Population
Adaptation
Fitness
Species
Mutation
Adaptive radiation
Competition
Inter-specific competition
Intra specific competition
Sexual selection
Co-evolution
Biotic factors
Abiotic factors
Aposomistic coloration
Cryptic coloration
Mullerian mimicry
Batesian mimicry
Speciation
Carrying capacity
Niche
Mutualism
Parasitism
Commensalism
Predation
Herbivory
r and K strategists
Energy pyramids
District Vision:
A promise of learning, dignity, and respect for all.
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