Science Essential Standards Unit Development
Body Systems/Genetics
Human Body: 14 – 16% of EOG test
Genetics: 13 – 15% of EOG test
TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF EOG TEST: 27 – 31%
Body
Systems/Genetics Kit
5.L.3 (Genetics)
Understand why organisms differ from or are similar to their parents
based on the characteristics of the organism.
5.L.1 (Body Systems)
Understand how structures and systems of organisms (to include the
human body) perform functions necessary for life.
Essential Standards
Objectives
Genetics
5.L.3.1 Explain why organisms differ from or are similar to their parents based
on the characteristics of the organism.
5.L.3.2 Give examples of likenesses that are inherited and some that are not.
Body Systems
5.L.1.1 Explain why some organisms are capable of surviving as a single cell while
others require many cells that are specialized to survive.
5.L.1.2 Compare the major systems of the human body (digestive, respiratory,
circulatory, muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular) in terms of their functions
necessary for life.
Concepts Being
Studied
Genetics
Change, Constancy and measurement
Unity and Diversity
Structure and function in living things
Body System
Structure and Function in Living things
Systems, Dependence, Inter- and Intradependence
Essential Questions Genetics:
 Why do offspring resemble their parents?
from DPI
 Why don’t offspring look exactly like their parents?
 How do organisms change as they go through life cycles?
source:
http://scnces.ncdpi.wikispace
 How are organisms of the same kind similar, yet different?
s.net/K5+Science+Resources

How are organisms of the same kind different from each other and
how might this help them to survive?
Body Systems:



Sample Vocabulary
List
How are structure and function related in living things?
What are the systems of the human body? What features of the
human body (structure and function) are common to all humans?
How do human body systems function? How are parts of human
body systems independent, and interdependent?
Genetics:
Trait, inherit, species, population, community, culture, characteristic, dominant,
recessive, learned behavior, inherited, offspring
Body Systems:
Writing Prompts
Unicellular, multicellular (complex organism), amoeba, yeast, bacteria,
transport, Circulatory System, heart, blood, vessels, cardiovascular,
Respiratory System, nose, trachea, lungs, carbon dioxide, oxygen, Skeletal
System, bones, Muscular System, muscles (voluntary and involuntary),
Digestive System, mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, waste, nutrients,
Nervous System, brain, spinal cord, nerves
Genetics:
1. Which of your physical traits seem to be the most and the least
accounted for by your parent’s traits? Describe your traits.
Compare and contrast them with those of your parents. Finally,
explain which ones you think are most and least accounted for by
your ancestry.
2. Imagine that you have an identical twin. What would be some
advantages and disadvantages of having an identical twin?
3. Look at a series of family pictures with parents and children.
Describe how the children are similar to their parents and similar to
one another.
4. Research hereditary diseases on the internet. Write a brief
description of one disease that is caused by heredity.
5. Some birds can fly for a long time without stopping. Is this a trait
that birds can inherit from their parents? Can you think of any
other traits of particular breeds of birds that might be passed from
parents to offspring? Describe one such trait as well as how it might
help a bird to survive.
Body Systems:
1. If you were to become a doctor, which body system would you most
Project Ideas
Resources
want to be your area of focus? Explain your choice and tell what
your job would be like.
2. Some people think humans could survive by eating the same three
meal menu daily. Others think there must be more variability in our
diet in order for us to be truly healthy. What do you believe is the
case? Explain your position.
3. Write a story about a character who eats nothing but chocolate all
day, every day. Describe this character in detail and make sure to
explain how chocolate came to be the only food he/she consumes.
4. Describe what your favorite foods were when you were very young.
5. Pretend you are a human body part, organ, or system. Nominate
yourself for BOS (body part, organ, or system) of the year. Explain
in your nomination essay the many things that you do to help
humans survive, and why you are the most important body part,
organ, or system.
Body System/Genetics kit, see techbook (virtual field trip, science sleuth,
virtual lab, hands on lab, etc), guest speaker (school nurse, etc)
DPI Wiki – BE SURE TO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR
ADDITIONAL WEBSITES:
http://scnces.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/K-5+Science+Resources
Studyjams.com
Techbook
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/?ErrMsg=Your%20sessio
n%20has%20expired%2C%20please%20login&returnURL=a
pp%2Ediscoveryeducation%2Ecom
*Please note techbook includes genetics and evolution (5.L.3)
in the ecosystem unit. However, this is in our body systems
kit.
Chew the Fat (how the digestive system works)
http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body
Quizlet – create flashcards
http://quizlet.com/
Learning.com’s Aha!Science (subscription)
http://www.learning.com/ahascience/
Cartoon Video Clips
http://ed.ted.com/lessons
Worksheets (subscription)
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/weather.html
Vocabulary in Song and Rap Format (subscription)
http://flocabulary.com
Assessment
Teacher-made
Techbook quiz and assessments
Classscapes