2-16-2012 Life Science: Evolution and Diversity

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.3 Life Science: All students will understand that life science principles are powerful conceptual tools for making sense of the complexity, diversity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Order in natural systems arises in accordance with rules that govern the physical world, and the order of natural systems can be modeled and predicted through the use of mathematics.

E. Evolution and Diversity: Sometimes, differences between organisms of the same kind provide advantages for surviving and reproducing in different environments. These selective differences may lead to dramatic changes in characteristics of organisms in a population over extremely long periods of time.
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individual organisms and entire species.	5.3.6.E.1	Describe the impact on the survival of species during specific times in geologic history when environmental conditions changed.	Encyclopedia of Life Interdependence and Adaptation Variation Variation and Classification Characteristics and Classification Behavior Changes in the Environment Natural Selection Carbon Dating Game The Greenhouse Effect Evolution Humans and the Environment Organisms in their Environment Infrared Zoo Adapt to Fit Natural Selection and Evolution Climate Change for Kids Climate Change Fossils National Zoo Zoology Mammals R Us BrainPop Diversity of Life Biodiversity Bug Hunt Marine Biology Hams Hall Pond (primary) Hams Hall Pond (secondary) Foss Diversity of Life Eskeletons Biodiversity Research Institute - Eagle Cam Duke Farm, NJ - Eagle Cam Raptor Resource
8	Individual organisms with certain traits are more likely than others to survive and have offspring in particular environments. The advantages or disadvantages of specific characteristics can change when the environment in which they exist changes. Extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the characteristics of a species are insufficient to allow survival.	5.3.8.E.1	Organize and present evidence to show how the extinction of a species is related to an inability to adapt to changing environmental conditions using quantitative and qualitative data.
8	Anatomical evidence supports evolution and provides additional detail about the sequence of branching of various lines of descent.	5.3.8.E.2	Compare the anatomical structures of a living species with fossil records to derive a line of descent.

Please post a comment below if you have a site or lesson idea to share for teaching these concepts.  I would love your input!

2-15-2012 Life Sciene: Gettin' Genetics

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.3 Life Science: All students will understand that life science principles are powerful conceptual tools for making sense of the complexity, diversity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Order in natural systems arises in accordance with rules that govern the physical world, and the order of natural systems can be modeled and predicted through the use of mathematics.

D. Heredity and Reproduction :  Organisms reproduce, develop, and have predictable life cycles. Organisms contain genetic information that influences their traits, and they pass this on to their offspring during reproduction.
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Reproduction is essential to the continuation of every species.	5.3.6.D.1	Predict the long-term effect of interference with normal patterns of reproduction.	Mendel's Discoveries  Chromosomes Gene Scene  Reproduction and Cloning  DNA Genes  Cell Division and Inheritance Genetics  Nature vs. Nurture NOVA Evolution  NOVA Nature Medical Animation Library  Ecology Animations Encyclopedia of Life Heredity and Reproduction from Scott Foresman Genetics, Inheritance, and Variation Vocab Activity Species Variation and Environmental Factors Vocab Activity Breeding Vocab Activity Genetics Education Center What is Mitosis and Meiosis?  Cell Reproduction Millionaire Genetics with a Smile Bikini Bottom Genetics Bikini Bottom Genetics 2 SpongeBob Genetics Quiz Incomplete Dominance DiHybrid Crosses Genetics Review Genetics Challenge Science: Genomes Interactive Biology: Genetics
6	Variations exist among organisms of the same generation (e.g., siblings) and of different generations (e.g., parent to offspring).	5.3.6.D.2	Explain how knowledge of inherited variations within and between generations is applied to farming and animal breeding.
6	Traits such as eye color in human beings or fruit/flower color in plants are inherited.	5.3.6.D.3	Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits/characteristics.
8	Some organisms reproduce asexually. In these organisms, all genetic information comes from a single parent. Some organisms reproduce sexually, through which half of the genetic information comes from each parent.	5.3.8.D.1	Defend the principle that, through reproduction, genetic traits are passed from one generation to the next, using evidence collected from observations of inherited traits.
8	The unique combination of genetic material from each parent in sexually reproducing organisms results in the potential for variation.	5.3.8.D.2	Explain the source of variation among siblings.
8	Characteristics of organisms are influenced by heredity and/or their environment.	5.3.8.D.3	Describe the environmental conditions or factors that may lead to a change in a cell’s genetic information or to an organism’s development, and how these changes are passed on.

Please post a comment below if you have a site or lesson idea to share for teaching these concepts.  I would love your input!

2-10-2012 Life Science - Depending on Interdependence

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.3 Life Science: All students will understand that life science principles are powerful conceptual tools for making sense of the complexity, diversity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Order in natural systems arises in accordance with rules that govern the physical world, and the order of natural systems can be modeled and predicted through the use of mathematics.

C. Interdependence :  All animals and most plants depend on both other organisms and their environment to meet their basic needs.
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Various human activities have changed the capacity of the environment to support some life forms.	5.3.6.C.1	Explain the impact of meeting human needs and wants on local and global environments.	Microorganisms Food Chains Food Chains and Cycles Populations and Pyramids Damage to the Environment Changing the Balance Ecology and Grouping Organisms Compete or Die Population and Sustainability Life on the Rocky Shore Coral Reef Habitat Pond Life - Urban Ecologist Exploring Ecosystems Virtual Pond Virtual Aquarium Ecology and Behavior BrainPop Our Fragile Environment Marine Biology Journey North - migration Nanotechnology FOSS Populations and Ecosystems The Wild Lab Project Noah iNaturalist Project Squirrel Shout
6	The number of organisms and populations an ecosystem can support depends on the biotic resources available and on abiotic factors, such as quantities of light and water, range of temperatures, and soil composition.	5.3.6.C.2	Predict the impact that altering biotic and abiotic factors has on an ecosystem.
6	All organisms cause changes in the ecosystem in which they live. If this change reduces another organism’s access to resources, that organism may move to another location or die.	5.3.6.C.3	Describe how one population of organisms may affect other plants and/or animals in an ecosystem.
8	Symbiotic interactions among organisms of different species can be classified as: Producer/consumer Predator/prey Parasite/host Scavenger/prey Decomposer/prey	5.3.8.C.1	Model the effect of positive and negative changes in population size on a symbiotic pairing.

Please post a comment below if you have a site or lesson idea to share for teaching these concepts.  I would love your input!

2-9-2012 Life Science - Feeding on the Food Chain

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

B. Matter and Energy Transformations :  Food is required for energy and building cellular materials. Organisms in an ecosystem have different ways of obtaining food, and some organisms obtain their food directly from other organisms.
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Plants are producers: They use the energy from light to make food (sugar) from carbon dioxide and water. Plants are used as a source of food (energy) for other organisms.	5.3.6.B.1	Describe the sources of the reactants of photosynthesis and trace the pathway to the products.	Living Things Label a Plant Cell Parts of a Plant Helping Plants Grow Photosynthesis and Respiration Plants Scitable Plant Vascular System National Geographic Arkive Sheppard's Software Games UPM Forest Life
6	All animals, including humans, are consumers that meet their energy needs by eating other organisms or their products.	5.3.6.B.2	Illustrate the flow of energy (food) through a community.
8	Food is broken down to provide energy for the work that cells do, and is a source of the molecular building blocks from which needed materials are assembled.	5.3.8.B.1	Relate the energy and nutritional needs of organisms in a variety of life stages and situations, including stages of development and periods of maintenance.
8	All animals, including humans, are consumers that meet their energy needs by eating other organisms or their products.	5.3.8.B.2	Analyze the components of a consumer’s diet and trace them back to plants and plant products.

Matt

2-8-2012 Life Science - Super Cellular Units

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.3 Life Science: All students will understand that life science principles are powerful conceptual tools for making sense of the complexity, diversity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Order in natural systems arises in accordance with rules that govern the physical world, and the order of natural systems can be modeled and predicted through the use of mathematics.

A. Organization and Development :  Living organisms are composed of cellular units (structures) that carry out functions required for life. Cellular units are composed of molecules, which also carry out biological functions
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Systems of the human body are interrelated and regulate the body’s internal environment.	5.3.6.A.1	Model the interdependence of the human body’s major systems in regulating its internal environment.	Get Body Smart Anatomy Arcade The Amazing Human Body FOSS Human Brain and Senses NOVA Body and Brain eSkeletons Cell Inspector Cell Explorer A Tour of the Cell Inside a Cell Virtual Cell Animation Cells Label and Animal Cell NSTA - The Basis of Life Stem Cells Bacterial Cells Cells Alive The Incredible Megacell Cells to Systems General Biology Animations Life Processes Neuro-Biology Animations Defending Against Infection BrainPop Cellular Life and Genetics Molecular Biology Animations Circulatory System Life Cycles Biology Animations Artificial Anatomy - Smithsonian Cell Games Ask a Biologist
6	Essential functions of plant and animal cells are carried out by organelles.	5.3.6.A.2	Model and explain ways in which organelles work together to meet the cell’s needs.
8	All organisms are composed of cell(s). In multicellular organisms, specialized cells perform specialized functions. Tissues, organs, and organ systems are composed of cells and function to serve the needs of cells for food, air, and waste removal.	5.3.8.A.1	Compare the benefits and limitations of existing as a single-celled organism and as a multicellular organism.
8	During the early development of an organism, cells differentiate and multiply to form the many specialized cells, tissues, and organs that compose the final organism. Tissues grow through cell division.	5.3.8.A.2	Relate the structures of cells, tissues, organs, and systems to their functions in supporting life.