6-8-LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structure and Processes

6-8-LS1.A: Structure and Function

6-8-LS1-1: Provide evidence that organisms (unicellular and multicellular) are made of cells and that a single cell must carry out all of the basic functions of life.

Cell Types
Embryo Development

6-8-LS1-2: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of the cells contribute to that function.

Cell Energy Cycle
Cell Structure
Cell Types
Osmosis
RNA and Protein Synthesis

6-8-LS1-3: Develop an argument supported by evidence for how multicellular organisms are organized by varying levels of complexity; cells, tissue, organs, organ systems.

Cell Types
Circulatory System
Digestive System
Senses

6-8-LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms

6-8-LS1-5: Construct an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors as well as specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.

Flower Pollination
Honeybee Hive

6-8-LS1-6: Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.

Fast Plants^® 1 - Growth and Genetics
Growing Plants
Inheritance
Measuring Trees
Seed Germination
Temperature and Sex Determination - Metric

6-8-LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms

6-8-LS1-7: Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.

Cell Energy Cycle
Food Chain
Photosynthesis Lab
Plants and Snails
Pond Ecosystem

6-8-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

6-8-LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

6-8-LS2-1: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on individual organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Pond Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem
Rabbit Population by Season
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

6-8-LS2-2: Construct an explanation that predicts the patterns of interactions among and between the biotic and abiotic factors in a given ecosystem.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Pond Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem

6-8-LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

6-8-LS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Carbon Cycle
Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Pond Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem

6-8-LS2.C: Ecosystems Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience

M-LS2-4: Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that explains how changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Pond Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem
Rabbit Population by Season
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

M-LS2-5: Evaluate benefits and limitations of differing design solutions for maintaining an ecosystem.

GMOs and the Environment

6-8-LS4: Biological Evolution; Unity and Diversity

6-8-LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity

6-8-LS4-1: Analyze and interpret evidence from the fossil record to infer patterns of environmental change resulting in extinction and changes to life forms throughout the history of the Earth.

Human Evolution - Skull Analysis

6-8-LS4.B: Natural Selection

6-8-LS4-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals' probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
Microevolution
Natural Selection
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

6-8-LS4-3: Gather and synthesize information about the technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
GMOs and the Environment
Genetic Engineering

6-8-LS4.C: Adaptation

6-8-LS4-4: Interpret graphical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
Microevolution