Subject: Biology
Grade Level: 10th Grade
Unit Title: Unit 6 - Patterns Among Organisms
Big Idea/Theme: Animal Behaviors
Timeframe Needed for Completion:
2 ½ weeks on a 90 min block schedule
Grading Period: 2nd nine weeks
Understandings: This unit is focused on organisms and their ability to accomplish essential life functions. In particular, this unit focuses on
the use of adaptations, both structural and behavioral, for survival and reproductive success. Students will learn about several
representative phyla and several physiological processes. Specifically, students will gain an understanding of:
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essential life functions such as transport, excretion, respiration, regulation, nutrition, synthesis, reproduction, and growth and
development.
the processes that allow unicellular protists, annelid worms, insects, amphibians, mammals, non-vascular plants, gymnosperms and
angiosperms to accomplish life functions.
the benefits of structural and behavioral adaptations to reproductive success and survival.
Essential Questions:
1. Why do the players on Survivor boil their water?
2. Why can’t an insect grow to be as large as a
human?
3. How do you teach a dog a new trick?
Curriculum Goals/Objectives (to be assessed at the end of the
unit/quarter)
Bio.2.1 Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within
their environments.
Bio.2.1.2 Analyze the survival and reproductive success of organisms in
terms of behavioral, structural, and reproductive adaptations.
Essential Skills/Vocabulary:
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
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Assess, describe, and explain adaptations affecting survival
and reproductive success
Analyze the broad patterns of animal behavior as adaptations
to the environment
Recognize essential life functions and processes in various
organisms including plants and animals.
VocabularyNon-vascular plants
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Innate behavior.
Learned behavior.
Social behavior
Assessment Tasks:
1. Amazing Organism Sites (see materials suggested section
for video sites)
Intended to interest students in the diverse array of behaviors found in
organisms. The teacher will use video clips from internet sites to engage
students in hypothesizing about the purpose of the behaviors.
2. Writing Activity based on Organism Videos: Have students
hypothesis why the animals are behaving that way.
3. Writing: Organism Newspaper Project (Evaluation Rubric)
4. Diversity of Life Stations NCSCOS Document (Great)
5. Earthworm Anatomy Lab
6. Frog Dissection
7. Investigation of Leaf Stomata-Obtained from:
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/stomata.html
8. Learning Guide for Animal Behavior
9. Learning Guide to Viruses and Bacteria
10. Quiz: Viruses vs. Bacteria
11. Pathogen Warning Announcement Activity (Poster)
12. Class scape Unit 6 Test
Materials Suggestions:
Animal Video Links:
Below is a list of suggested websites containing video regarding various organisms for this unit.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/206
Squid and Octopus
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/
Click on Animals and Nature
Then click on Wildlife
Many wonderful video clips to choose from.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MhcOYgCJK4o&feature=related
Venus Flytrap
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Fyre3lAt64
Mimosa pudica – sensitive plant
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gilOQk4MPZ8
peacock
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PVUCF3vJQA0 (THIS ONE IS GREAT!!!)
with music – rap
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LGBqQyZid04
duck dog imprinting
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iQwePii0Oxc
baby ducks plus mom – imprinting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffpuyLMVodA&feature=related
baby ducks plus mom
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R7c3grMQNts
swans fighting over pond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2_wdMmEupQ&feature=related
prairie chickens – courting and aggression
Organism Newspaper Project : Students will need internet access
Below are some useful websites that have information about student newspaper projects.
http://litsite.uaa.alaska.edu/workbooks/kidpaper.html
(creating a newspaper book report)
http://www.glc.k12.ga.us/BuilderV03/LPTools/LPShared/lpdisplay.asp?LPID=30599
(creating a Civil War newspaper – part of a webquest)
http://www.amistadamerica.org/new/main/html/curriculum/newspaper.html
(creating a newspaper about the Amistad)
http://schools.portnet.k12.ny.us/~rmclean/Latin_America/lesson_newspaper.html
(Latin American topics newspaper)
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/NewspaperProj/Newspaper.html
(American History topic newspaper)
Diversity of Life stations: NCSCOS Document and websites
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/ponddip/index.html
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/earthwormdissection.htm
http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/frog-dissection.html and a link has been provided in the template
http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_main.html
NCSCOS Support Document
You will need to have ordered enough Earthworms and/or Frogs for dissection in advance as well as having dissection kits available.