Life Science

Course Description

Open to: Grade 7 Semester Course
Prerequisite: None
Content: Students will study living processes in the five main thematic areas of cells, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, and ecology. Emphasis on laboratory investigation encourages the student to make observations in the field and classroom.

Adopted Materials

Title: Science Explorer: Life Science
Author: Coolidge et.al.
Publisher: Prentice Hall

Grades

The grade that a student receives in this course will be a reflection of how the student has performed in three main areas; the assimilation of content, the acquisition of performance skills, and the knowledge gained from homework. The course grade will be calculated from scores obtained on unit tests, projects and activities (labs, model building, reports, etc.), homework, and a semester final. Progress reports should provide the student and parents with information (average grades or percentages) in three main areas: unit tests, projects/activities, and homework completed.

The Final is also the End of Course Exam (EOC), which will count as 10% of the student’s final grade and determine whether or not the student has met the State Standards in Science for this particular course. The science curriculum supervisor discourages the use of notes, note cards, or books when taking a unit test. Students will not be allowed to use these items on the Final Exam.

Copyright Resources

Course Scope and Sequence

• For specific Standard References please see: Idaho State Assessment Standards
• Download this curriculum and standards documentation as a "Printer Friendly" pdf file
• Curriculum updated: 6/15/07

Unit 0

Unifying Concepts

Ongoing

1202.00 Practices safe laboratory procedures

Standard Reference
120200

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

The student will practice laboratory safety procedures and use of safety equipment.

Prentice Hall Life Science text

TMA

Back to Top

Unit 1

Introduction to Science and the Scientific Method

2 weeks

1202.01Think critically to discern differences between observations and inferences.

Standard Reference
7.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Use a discrepant event to make observations and inferences to explain them.

Teacher written activities

EOC, TMA

02

Develop scientific explanations based on scientific knowledge, logic and analysis.

Skills Handbook Pages 791 and 793

EOC, TMA

1202.02 Use the steps of scientific inquiry to identify and answer a question or solve a problem.

Standard Reference
7.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Generate a question, form a hypothesis, use appropriate tools to gather data, analyze data and form a conclusion.

Teacher written activity

EOC, TMA

02

Define hypothesis and scientific method

Prentice Hall text

EOC, TMA

1202.03 Know that observations and data are evidence on which to base scientific explanations and predictions.

Standard Reference
7.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Create and use a data table.

Skills Handbook Page 796

EOC, TMA

02

Collect data and analyze it using a graph.

Skill Handbook pages 788-791 and 796-797.

EOC, TMA

03

Make metric measurements using appropriate tools.

Ongoing
Skills Handbook, pages 788-789

EOC, TMA

04

Describe how observations and data are evidence on which to base scientific explanations and predictions.

Ongoing
Ch. 1, xxii-3
Skill Handbook, pages 790-798

EOC, TMA

05

Use observations to make defendable inferences.

Ongoing

EOC, TMA

06

Use models to explain or demonstrate a concept

Ongoing

EOC, TMA

07

Describe how observations and data are evidence on which to base scientific explanations and pre

Ongoing

TMA

08

Identify controls and variables used in scientific investigations.

Ongoing
Ch. 1, Section 1,

EOC, TMA

09

Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather and display data

Ongoing

TMA

10

Evaluate data in order to form conclusions

Ongoing

EOC, TMA

11

Use evidence and critical thinking to accept or reject a hypothesis

Ongoing

TMA

12

Evaluate alternative explanations or predictions

Ongoing

TMA

13

Communicate and defend scientific procedures and explanations

Ongoing

TMA

Back to Top

Unit 2

Cells Structure

2 weeks

1202.04 Know the parts of plant and animal cells and the functions of each cell part.

Standard Reference
7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Identify and describe the function at least 6 parts of plant and animal cells (cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, chromosomes, chloroplasts, and mitochondria).

Ch. 1, Sections 2 and 3

EOC, TMA

02

Compare and contrast the structure and function of a plant and animal cell.

Ch. 1, Sections 2 and 3

EOC, TMA

03

Verify differences between plant and animal cells by observing actual cells using the microscope.

Ch. 1, Sections 2 and 3

EOC, TMA

04

Identify differences between plant and animal cells.

Ch. 1, Sections 2 and 3

EOC, TMA

05

Define small systems as a part of a whole system.

Ch.1, Section 3

EOC, TMA

06

Determine how small systems contribute to the function of the whole.

Ch. 1, Section 2

EOC, TMA

07

Identify the different structural levels of an organism (cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems).

Ch. 10, Section 1, p. 311

EOC, TMA

08

Recognize the 3 key features of the cell theory

Ch. 1, Section 2

EOC, TMA

1202.05 Know the relationships among cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.

Standard Reference
7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Describe the relationship between cell, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the organism.

Ch. 15, Sections 1 and 4

TMA

1202.06 Operate a compound microscope properly.

Standard Reference
7.S.5

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Name at least 8 parts of a compound microscope and state the function of each part (eyepiece, objectives lenses, coarse adjustment knob, fine adjustment knob, diaphragm, base, arm, and stage).

Appendix B

EOC, TMA

02

Calculate total magnification

Appendix B

EOC

03

Make a wet mount slide using proper technique.

Appendix B

EOC, TMA

04

Explain how to use the microscope correctly.

Appendix B

TMA

05

State how the microscope changes the position of objects.

Appendix B

EOC, TMA

Back to Top

Unit 3

Cell Processes

2 weeks

1202.07 Know that equilibrium is a physical state of balance in which changes and forces occur in opposite and offsetting directions.

Standard Reference
7.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Describe diffusion and osmosis.

Ch. 2 Project

EOC, TMA

1202.08 Know that most cell functions involve chemical reactions.

Standard Reference
7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Diagram cellular respiration and photosynthesis including word descriptions.

Ch. 2
Section 3 and 4

EOC, TMA

Back to Top

Unit 4

Genetics/Evolution

2 weeks

1202.09 Know that genes and chromosomes carry traits and that genetic information is replicated and passed on to new cells.

Standard Reference
7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis.

Ch. 3; Section 3

EOC, TMA

02

Describe how dominant and recessive traits are inherited.

Ch. 3, Section 1

EOC, TMA

03

Describe the pros and cons of mutations.

Ch. 3, pages 110-112

EOC, TMA

1202.10 Know that genetic traits are passed on to offspring through chromosomes.

Standard Reference
7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Know the sex chromosomes for human males and females and which parent determines the gender of a child.

Ch. 3, Section 3

EOC, TMA

02

Use a Punnett square to predict possible outcomes in offspring for dominant and recessive traits.

Ch. 3, Section 2

TMA

1202.11 Describe how natural selection explains species over time.

Standard Reference
7.S.1, 7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Identify concepts of science that have been stable over time.

Ch. 5, Section 1

EOC, TMA

02

Recognize changes that occur within systems.

Ch. 5, Section 1

EOC, TMA

03

Describe how natural selection explains species change over time

Ch. 5, Section 1

EOC, TMA

Back to Top

Unit 5

Classification

1 week

1202.12 Know how patterns and similarities allow us to organize information about our universe.

Standard Reference
7.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Use a taxonomic key to classify organisms.

Ch. 6, Section 1

TMA

02

Know the 6 kingdoms of living things and their basic characteristics.

Ch. 6, Section 2

EOC, TMA

03

Know the 8 levels of classification.

Ch. 6, Section 2

EOC, TMA

04

Recognize the two levels that make up the scientific name (binomial nomenclature) of an organism.

Ch. 6, Section 1

EOC, TMA

05

Know the definitions of the following terms: unicellular, multicellular,, eukaryote, prokaryote, autotroph, and heterotroph.

Ch. 6, Section 1

EOC, TMA

06

Know what classification is and why it important.

Ch. 6; Section 1

EOC, TMA

Back to Top

Unit 6

Survey of Kingdoms

3 weeks

1202.13 Understand the phylogeny and diversity found in the 6 kingdoms.

Standard Reference
7.S.1

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Given a picture of an organism, identify which kingdom.

Ch. 6; Section 1

EOC, TMA

02

Compare and contrast vertebrates and invertebrates.

Ch. 10

EOC, TMA

03

Recognize the importance of eubacteria, fungi, and protists.

Ch. 6, Section 2, 3
Ch. 7

EOC, TMA

04

Identify the characteristics and diversity within the plant kingdom..

Ch. 8, Section 1

EOC, TMA

05

Identify the characteristics and diversity within the animal kingdom

Ch. 9,10

EOC, TMA

Back to Top

Unit 7

Ecology

4 weeks

1202.14 Understand the relationship between matter and energy in living systems.

Standard Reference
7.S.3

No.

Performance Objective

Resource Reference

Assessment Correlation

01

Describe how the availability of resources (matter, energy, biotic, abiotic ) limits the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Ch. 22, Section 1
Ch. 23, Section 1

EOC, TMA

02

Define the following ecological terms: habitat, niche, community, symbiotic, competition, predation, parasitism, and mutualism

Ch. 22, Sections 2, 3

EOC, TMA

03

Describe factors that affect population, density, distribution, and dynamics.

Ch. 22, Section 2

EOC, TMA

04

Recognize the significance and use of the life tables and interpret survivorship curves.

Ch. 22

TMA

05

Discuss the positive and negative aspects of predation on prey populations.

Ch. 22

EOC, TMA

06

Describe how communities are organized, how they develop, and how they diversify.

Ch. 22

TMA

07

Explain how species become "endangered species."

Ch. 22

EOC, TMA

08

Be able to distinguish the various aspects of "habitats."

Ch. 22

EOC, TMA

09

Describe how energy stored in food is primarily derived from the sun through photosynthesis.

Ch. 23, Section 1

EOC, TMA

10

Illustrate how atoms and molecules cycle among the living and nonliving components of the biosphere.

Ch. 23, Section 2

EOC, TMA

11

Describe how energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, from photosynthetic organisms to herbivores, carnivore, and decomposers.

Ch. 23, Section 1

EOC, TMA