Grade+7+Life+Science+Essential+Learnings

//** Essential Learnings and Indicators of Success **// Develop and apply scientific inquiry processes necessary to design, implement, evaluate, and communicate experiments, observations, and results in an appropriate way. 1. Define a problem or testable question. 2. Identify variable and controls in an experiment. 3. Hypothesize using an If/then/will/because statement. 4. Use appropriate tools to measure and organize data. 5. Analyze data to form a reasonable conclusion. 6. Ability to present the results of an investigation.

Identify the impact of humans and their role in the survival of our planet, the balance of nature, and the environmental issues in the ecosystem in which they live. 1. Describe the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration with plants and animals. 2. Identify environmental factors and/or adaptations that could change the survival of an organism or the balance of nature. 3. Identify how increase in population and other factors are changing the world's climate. 4. Identify differences between renewable and non renewable energy sources. 5. Identify how human contributions relate to sustainability. 6. Describe biologial interactions such as mutualism or parastism and how those effect niches and evolution

Recognize the processes of life and how living things interact with their environment and each other. 1. Identify the needs and characteristics of living things 2. Distinguish biotic and abiotic factors. 3. Explain the flow of energy within and between living communities. 4. Identify symbiotic relationships and compare ways various organisms exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen or depend on each other for survival. 5. Outline the flow of energy from producers to consumers.

Identify the characteristics used for classification and how those characteristics lead to survival of the organism. 1. Sort a group of objects/organisms based on their characteristics or function in an ecosystem with and without an identification key. 2. Understand the process and need for dichotomous keys. 3. Determine how organisms within an ecosystem have different characteristics and niche within their environment.

Recognize the level of organization within plant and animal organism and the interactions of their body systems. 1. Identify organs, organ systems, and describe their functions. 2. Recognize the causes of communicable or non communicable diseases and illnesses. 3. Explain how each level builds upon the other and their impact on the function of a living organism. 4. Identify and compare structures and functions of plant and animal cells.

List and describe the structure and functions of body systems and evaluate personal choices and decisions to recognize how those choices relate to their body health, growth and development. 1. Identify the locations and functions of major organs in the body. 2. Explain how body systems interact and depend on each other. 3. Identify how choices determine the health of the body. 4. Classify an illness/disease as communicable or non communicable and recognize their causes. 5. Explain how organ development, environment, activities, or heredity affect the function and health of the system. 6. Evaluate life choices and their impact on health.

Describe the relationship between chromosomes, genetics, traits, and their role in heredity. 1. Relate the number of chromosomes to mitosis or meiosis. 2. Distinguish between dominant and recessive traits. 3. Predict the genotypes/phenotypes of an offspring based on the genes of the parents. 4. Describe the role of alleles in inheritance. Examine and interpret how people, critical thinking, advances and insight in technology have led to changes in the scientific field. 1. Critically evaluate print and visual media for scientific evidence, bias, or opinion (i.e., adequate, complete, progressive, information). 2. Recognize developments in technology that have been changed by different people in history and how those ideas have built upon each other.

Investigate the new techniques being used in science such as genetic engineering and analyze their impact on society. 1. Recognize the contributions to the advancement of science. 2. Explain how human activity can have positive and negative effects. 3. Ability to make ethical and responsible decisions. 4. Use models or other methods to make predictions on future outcomes.