CURRICULUM TOOL: HOMEOSTASIS AND HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
NYS Living Environment Core Curriculum Standard 4:
Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the
physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
Key Idea 1 Living things are both similar to and different from each other and from nonliving things.
Performance Indicator 1.2 – Describe and explain the structures and function of the human body at
different organizational levels (e.g. systems, tissues, cells, organelles)
 Important levels of organization for structure and function include organelles, cells,
tissues, organs, organ systems, and whole organisms.
 Humans are complex organisms. They require multiple systems for digestion, respiration,
reproduction, circulation, excretion, movement, coordination, and immunity. The systems
interact to perform the life functions.
 The components of the human body, from organ systems to cell organelles, interact to
maintain a balanced internal environment. To successfully accomplish this, organisms
possess a diversity of control mechanisms that detect deviations and make corrective
actions.
 If there is a disruption in any human system, there may be a corresponding imbalance in
homeostasis.
 The organs and systems of the body help to provide all the cells with their basic needs.
The cells of the body are of different kinds and are grouped in ways that enhance how they
function together.
Key Idea 5 Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life.
Performance Indicator 5.3 – Relate processes at the system level to the cellular level in order to
explain dynamic equilibrium in multicelled organisms.
 Dynamic equilibrium results from detection and response to stimuli. Organisms detect
and respond to change in a variety of ways both at the cellular level and at the organismal
level.
 Feedback mechanisms have evolved that maintain homeostasis. Examples include the
changes in heart rate or respiratory rate in response to increased activity in muscle cells,
the maintenance of blood sugar levels by insulin from the pancreas, and the changes in
openings of leaves of plants by guard cells to regulate water loss and gas exchange.
High School of Language and Innovation 2012
Curriculum-Based Questions
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How does a changing external environment
affect homeostasis?
Describe the main components of
homeostasis in the body. (HINT: there are 5)
How do hormones help maintain
homeostasis?
Describe how the excretory system helps the
body maintain homeostasis.
How does the body use feedback
mechanisms to maintain homeostasis?
Key Vocabulary: alveolus, capillary, cell, circulatory system,
contraction, diabetes, digestive system, endocrine system, endocrine
gland, epidermis, epinephrine, excretion, feedback mechanism,
glucose, guard cells, heart rate, homeostasis, hormone,
hypothalamus, immune system, insulin, integuementary system,
lymph, lymphatic system, muscular system, nervous system (CNS
and PNS), organ, organ system, pH, reproductive system,
respiratory system, skeletal system, tendon, tissue, urinary system
Some Past Part B-1, B-2, C Questions:
January 2012 Questions 36, 39, 44-48
August 2011 Question 54, 55, 68-70
June 2011 Questions 34, 37-39, 83, 84
Released Regents Tests:
http://www.nysedregents.org/livingenvironment/
CURRICULUM TOOL: HOMEOSTASIS AND HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
Some Past Part A Questions
1. The diagram below represents a change in guard cells
that open and close pores in a plant. This change helps to
(1) Increase heterotrophic nutrition
(2) Absorb minerals
(3) regulate water loss
(4) reduce seed production
3. Breathing rates is constantly being monitored and adjusted
in the human body, which results in
(1) the differentiation of mature body cells
(2) feedback mechanisms removing damaged cells
(3) modification of gene activity in cells
(4) the internal environment being kept within certain limits
4. One characteristic of all living things is that they
(1) develop organ systems
(2) produce identical offspring
(3) maintain internal stability
(4) synthesize only organic matter
2. Sweating is a process that helps to cool the body during
strenuous exercise. This is an example of
(1) recycling of gases
(3) gene malfunction
(2) cellular respiration
(4) a feedback mechanism
Resources for Learning
Websites
Readings
Prentice Hall Biology
p.
Holt Living Environment
p. 468 - 495
http://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/humanbody/
http://www.untamedscience.com/biology/human-biology
http://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/human-biology
http://www.getbodysmart.com
http://www.innerbody.com/
Holt Living Environment Spanish
p. 468 - 495
Miller & Levine Biology
p.
Holt McDougal Biology
p.
Videos
March of the
Penguins
In-Class Activities
Curriculum Tool Guide
Worksheet station
Disney’s Nature
Earth
Activity stations
Human body model
THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED INDEPENDENT WORK
http://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/humanbody/quiz/ graded quiz
EMAIL TO: christinehunkele@yahoo.com or mcneilnakita@yahoo.com
High School of Language and Innovation 2012
Common Core Writing
Prompt