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1. Explain that many of the basic functions of organisms are carried out by or within cells and are similar in all organisms.
2. Explain that multicellular organisms have a variety of specialized cells, tissues, organs and organ systems that perform specialized functions.
3. Identify how plant cells differ from animal cells
(e.g., cell wall and chloroplasts).
Life Science – 6-8
Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems. An understanding of the characteristics,
6 structure, and function of cells, organisms and living systems will be developed. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of the principles of heredity, biological evolution, and the diversity and interdependence of life. Students demonstrate an understanding of different historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the life sciences.
7
1. Investigate the great variety of body plans and internal structures found in multicellular organism.
8 BENCHMARK
A. Explain that the basic functions of organisms are carried out in cells and groups of specialized cells form tissues and organs; the combination of these cells make up multicellular organisms that have a variety of body plans and internal structures.
KEY IDEA

Parts and function of cells.

Compare plant and animal cells

Multicullular organisms
PERFORMANCE

Identify cell parts and functions.

Examine multicellular organism body plans.
When Freq.
8
Produced by the Greene County ESC 2008

Life Science – 6-8
Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems. An understanding of the characteristics,
7 structure, and function of cells, organisms and living systems will be developed. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of the principles of heredity, biological evolution, and the diversity and interdependence of life. Students demonstrate an understanding of different historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the life sciences.
6
4. Recognize that an individual organism does not live forever; therefore reproduction is necessary for the continuation of every species and traits are passed on to the next generation through reproduction.
5. Describe that in asexual reproduction all the inherited traits come from a single parent.
6. Describe that in sexual reproduction an egg and sperm unite and some traits come from each parent, so the offspring is never identical to wither of its parents.
7. Recognize that likenesses between parents and offspring
(e.g., eye color, flower color) are inherited. Other likenesses, such as table manners are learned.
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8. Investigate the great diversity among organisms.
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1. Describe that asexual reproduction limits the spread of detrimental characteristics through a species and allows for genetic continuity.
2. Recognize that in asexual reproduction new combinations of traits are produced which may increase or decrease an organism’s chances for survival.
3. Explain how variations in structure, behavior or physiology allow some organisms to enhance their reproductive success and survival in a particular environment.
BENCHMARK
B. Describe the characteristics of an organism in terms of a combination of inherited traits and recognize reproduction as a characteristic of living organisms essential to the continuation of the species.
KEY IDEA

Inherited characteristi cs

Variations of characteristi cs of organisms
PERFORMANCE

Describe characteristics and traits influenced by parents
When Freq.
5
Produced by the Greene County ESC 2008

Life Science – 6-8
Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems. An understanding of the characteristics,
8 structure, and function of cells, organisms and living systems will be developed. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of the principles of heredity, biological evolution, and the diversity and interdependence of life. Students demonstrate an understanding of different historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the life sciences.
6
8. Describe how organisms may interact with one another.
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2. Investigate how organisms or populations may interact with one another through symbiotic relationships and how some species have become so adapted to each other that neither could survive without the other (e.g., predator-prey, parasitism, mutualistism and commensalism).
3. Explain how the number of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on adequate biotic
(living) resources (e.g., plants, animals) and abiotic (non-living) resources (e.g., light, water and soil).
6. Summarize the ways that natural occurrences and human activity affect the transfer of energy in Earth’s ecosystems (e.g., fire, hurricanes, roads and oil spills).
7. Explain that photosynthetic cells convert solar energy into chemical energy that is used to carry on life functions or is transferred to consumers and used to carry on their life functions.
8 BENCHMARK
C. Explain how energy entering the ecosystems as sunlight supports the life of organisms through photosynthesis and the transfer of energy through the interactions of organisms and the environment.
KEY IDEA

Interdependence and diversity of life.

Process of photosynthesis

Transfer of energy on organisms
PERFORMANCE

Explain process of photosynthesis, interdependence of life, and transfer of energy
When Freq.
5
Produced by the Greene County ESC 2008

Life Science – 6-8
Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems. An understanding of the characteristics,
9 structure, and function of cells, organisms and living systems will be developed. Students will also develop a deeper understanding of the principles of heredity, biological evolution, and the diversity and interdependence of life. Students demonstrate an understanding of different historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the life sciences.
6 7
4. Investigate how overpopulation impacts an ecosystem.
5. Explain that some environmental changes occur slowly while others occur rapidly
(e.g., forest and pond succession, fires and decomposition).
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4. Explain that diversity of species is developed through gradual processes over many generations (e.g., fossil record).
5. Investigate how an organism adapted to a particular environment may become extinct if the environment, as shown by the fossil record, changes.
BENCHMARK
D. Explain how extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and its adaptive characteristics are insufficient to allow survival (as seen in evidence of the fossil record).
KEY IDEA

Populations of organisms interact with each other and environment

Changes in environmental conditions effect survival
PERFORMANCE

Explore or explain changes in environment and how they effect populations
When Freq.
3
Produced by the Greene County ESC 2008