Enduring Understanding

 

The student will understand:

  • The properties of life that define living organisms have the same basic elements in common. These common elements function within living cells and organisms and are necessary for proper structure and function of all organisms.
  • Various scientific methods and technologies used to organize and solve problems in scientific exploration have led scientists to current the cell theory, which include the transport systems necessary for organisms to maintain homeostasis.
  • Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are vital in energy transfer through living systems and in helping organisms to maintain homeostasis.
  • The genetic material in living organisms play important roles in development and reproduction within generations and in development of new generations.
  • There are many positive uses of genetic engineering in the fields of medicine and the environment.
  • Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection explains the evolution from single-celled organisms to the very complex, multicellular, multisystem organisms.
  • The grouping of organisms, both plants and animals, by a classification system has helped us to understand diversity and evolutionary relationships between the organisms and how they react within specific ecosystems.

 

 

Essential Questions

 

  • How are the various structures and molecules found within living organisms vital to the life of an organism?
  • How is scientific research, which utilizes the Scientific Method and various scientific technologies, including genetic engineering, helping with the current issues in environmental resources, agriculture, and medicine?
  • How do active and passive transport systems in living organisms maintain energy for metabolism and maintain homeostasis within the organisms?
  • How do photosynthesis and cellular respiration function to provide the elements essential for life needs?
  • How is genetic information transferred, regulated, and responsible for specific traits within different organisms?
  • Explain the different ways that reproduction can work to maintain proper sequence of inherited traits within a species.
  • What functions do mutations serve in evolution?
  • How is the manipulation of DNA essential in medicine, agriculture, and other areas?
  • How might changes in the factors of Natural Selection affect evolution?
  • How do various factors affect the distribution and abundance of organisms and populations within an ecosystem?
  • Explain how the evolution of organisms worked to create the current species on Earth today.
  • How does organism interaction within a food web/chain affect the energy flow within the chain?
  • How has the evolution of various plant adaptations affected the current plant species on Earth today?

Content Topics

 

Unit 1

Principles of Cell Biology

 

Unit 2

Principles of Genetics

 

Unit 3

Principles of Evolution

 

Unit 4

Principles of Ecology

 

Unit 5

Diversity

 

 

Key Skills

 

  • Reading / Comprehension
  • Independent research
  • Use of technological practice
  • Organization
  • Essay writing
  • Utilization of analytical thinking and application

       

       

Assessments

 

  • Research Papers
  • Essays
  • Tests / Quizzes
  • Creative Writing
  • Applications
  • Presentations
  • Blogs (Journals)
  • Discussion Boards
  • Cooperative Learning

 

 

Standards Alignment:

 

PA State Standards:
3.1 Unifying Themes
models predict and understand science and technology
patterns as repeated processes or recurring elements
scale as a way of relating concepts and ideas to one another by measure
patterns of change in nature, physical and man-made systems
3.2 Inquiry and Design
process knowledge and organize scientific and technological phenomena
scientific inquiry to solve problems
3.3 Biological Sciences
compare and contrast structure and function among living things
describe and explain the chemical and structural basis of living organisms
describe how genetic information is inherited and expressed
explain the mechanisms of the theory of evolution
3.4 Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics
structure and properties of matter
analyze energy sources and transfers of heat
3.7 Technological Devices
identify and safely use a variety of tools to solve problems and answer questions
apply appropriate instruments and apparatus to examine a variety of objects and processes
utilize computer software to solve specific problems
3.8 Science, Technology, and Human Endeavors
analyze relationship between societal demands and scientific and technological enterprises
evaluate possibilities ,consequences, and impacts of scientific and technological solutions

 

National Standards:

LSCell1: cell structure/function
LSCell2: cell function and chemical reactions
LSCell4: regulation of cell function
LSCell5: chloroplasts/photosynthesis
LSCell6: cell differentiation in multicellularity
LSGene1: organism characteristics and DNA
LSGene2: chromosomes
LSGene3: DNA and spontaneous mutation
LSEvol1: species evolve over time
LSEvol2: diversity by evolution
LSEvol3: Natural selection
LSEvol4: evolutions of organisms
UCP1: systems, order and organization
UCP4: evolution/equilibrium
PS1: structure of atoms
LSBeh2: response to stimuli
LSBeh3: natural selection
PS3: chemical reactions
PS6: interactions of matter/energy
LSInter1: atoms/molecules in biosphere
LSInter2: energy flow in ecosystems
LSInter3: ecosystems cooperation/competition
LSInter 4: populations
LSInter5: humans in ecosystems
LS Mat2: energy from sun
LS Mat3: chemical bonds/energy
LSMat5: limitations of resources in an ecosystem
Mat6: energy flow and element recombination
ESS3: origin of earth