THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN Learning Experiences
New York State Core Curriculum in Science, and the New York City K-8 Science Scope and Sequence
Children’s Education Department, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
GSW = GreenSchool Workshop; PDW = Professional Development Workshop
Grade
7
7
7
7
7
NYC Scope & Sequence
Unit
Unit 1 – Geology
Unit 2 – Interactions
between Matter and
Energy
Unit 4 – Dynamic
Equilibrium:
Other Organisms
Unit 4 – Dynamic
Equilibrium:
Other Organisms
Unit 4 – Dynamic
Equilibrium:
Other Organisms
Focus Question
How is the earth
structured?
What is
photosynthesis and
how is important to
life on earth?
What are plant
structures and how
do they function?
How do botanists
use microscopes to
view plants?
How do botanists
use dichotomous
keys?
NYS Major
Understandings
NYC Core Science
Materials Unit
PS 2.1d
The majority of the
lithosphere is covered
by a relatively thin
layer of water called
the hydrosphere.
SEPUP – Issues and
Earth Science
Glencoe New York
Science
LE 6.2a
Photosynthesis is
carried on by green
plants and other
organisms containing
chlorophyll.
FOSS – Chemical
Interactions
LE 6.2c
Green plants are the
producers of food
which is used directly
or indirectly by
consumers
LE 1.1f
Many plants have
roots, stems, leaves,
and reproductive
structures.
Glencoe New York City
LE 5.1d
Producers, such as
green plants, use light
energy to make their
food.
LE Skill 1
manipulate a
compound microscope
to view microscopic
objects
LE Skill 3
prepare a wet mount
slide
GS Skill 6
Develop and use a
dichotomous key
Guided Programs
 The Role of Plants in the
Water Cycle (GSW)
 How Plants Grow (PDW)
 Wetland Ecology (PDW)
 Photosynthesis: A Light
Snack (GSW)
 The Role of Plants in the
Water Cycle (GSW)
 How Plants Grow (PDW)
Conceptual Focus

Earth’s surface is shaped in part
by the motion of water
(including ice) and wind over
long times…

Plants use the energy from light
to make sugars from carbon
dioxide and water…Plant

One of the most general
distinctions among organisms is
between plants, which use
sunlight to make their own
food, and animals, which
consume energy-rich foods.
Delta Customized Kit:
Investigations with
Protozoa, Plants, and
Snails
 Plants Up Close (GSW)
 Travels of a Botanist
(GSW)
 Plant World Demystified
(PDW)
 Flowers, Fruits and Seeds
(PDW)
Delta Customized Kit:
Investigations with
Protozoa, Plants, and
Snails
 Plants Up Close (GSW)
 Microscopic Explorations
(PDW)

Microscopes are used to view
object too small for the naked
eye
Delta Customized Kit:
Investigations with
Protozoa, Plants, and
Snails
 Introduction to the Forest
(PDW)

Dichotomous keys are used to
sort and identify organisms
NYBG / Education
DRAFT Feb 08
Grade
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
NYC Scope & Sequence
Unit
Unit 1 – Reproduction,
Heredity, and Evolution
Unit 1 – Reproduction,
Heredity, and Evolution
Unit 1 – Reproduction,
Heredity, and Evolution
Unit 1 – Reproduction,
Heredity, and Evolution
Unit 1 – Reproduction,
Heredity, and Evolution
Unit 2 – Humans in
their Environment
Unit 2 – Humans in
their Environment
Focus Question
NYS Major
Understandings
How do plants grow
and develop?
LE 4.3e
Patterns of
development vary
among plants. In seedbearing plants, seeds
contain stored food for
early development.
How do botanists
use microscope to
view plants?
LE Skill 1
Manipulate a
compound microscope
to view microscopic
objects
How do scientists
analyze patterns?
GS Skill 4
Recognize and analyze
patterns and trends
What is sexual
reproduction in
plants?
What adaptations
do plants exhibit in
the desert and
rainforest?
What affect does
pollution have on
wetlands?
How does habitat
destruction impact
our health and
environment?
NYC Core Science
Materials Unit
LE 4.1c
Methods of sexual
reproduction depend
upon the species. All
methods involve the
merging of sex cells to
begin the development
of a new individual.
LE 3.1b
Changes in
environmental
conditions can affect
the survival of
individual organisms
with a particular trait…
LE 7.2d
Since the Industrial
Revolution, human
activities have resulted
in major pollution of
air, water, and soil….
LE 7.2c
Human activities can
bring about
environmental
degradation…
IPS 1.1
Analyze science /
society problems and
issues at the local
level and plan and
carry out a remedial
course of action.
Science and Life
Issues: Unit F
(Evolution)
Glencoe NY Science
Unit 1
Science and Life
Issues: Unit F
(Evolution)
Glencoe NY Science
Unit 1
Science and Life
Issues: Unit F
(Evolution)
Guided Programs
Conceptual Focus
 Plants Up Close (GSW)
 Plant World Demystified
(PDW)

Various organs and tissues
function to serve the needs of
all cells for food, air, and waste
removal…
 Plants Up Close (GSW)
 Microscopic Explorations
(PDW)

Microscopes are used to view
object too small for the naked
eye

Use inductive reasoning to
construct, evaluate, and
validate conjectures and
arguments, recognizing that
patterns and relationships

In sexual reproduction, a single
specialized cell from a female
merges with a specialized cell
from a male

Similarities among organisms
are found in internal features
and patterns of development

The environment may contain
dangerous levels of substances
that are harmful to human
beings…

In agriculture, as in all
technologies, there are always
tradeoffs to be made…
 Patterns in Nature (PDW)
Glencoe NY Science
Unit 1
Science and Life
Issues: Unit F
(Evolution)
Glencoe NY Science
Unit 1
Science and Life
Issues: Unit F
(Evolution)
Glencoe NY Science
Unit 1
How to Make Your
Science Project
Scientific
 Flowers, Fruits and Seeds
(PDW)
 Introduction to the
Rainforests (PDW)
 Introduction to the
Deserts (PDW)
 Wetland Ecology (PDW)
Glencoe NY Science
How to Make Your
Science Project
Scientific
Glencoe NY Science
NYBG / Education
 Introduction to the
Rainforests (PDW)
 Introduction to the
Deserts
DRAFT Feb 08