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Grades 6–8. During this unit's 8 lessons, students consider how plants and animals have unique structures that assist in survival. Students first learn about cells and how they work in systems to contribute to survival. Next, they investigate photosynthesis and cellular respiration. A close investigation of the nervous system and a frog dissection show the interdependence of organs and their systems. Finally, students research unique systems of organisms. For a class of 32 students.
Grades 6–8. Unit Driving Question: How do the structure and function of organisms contribute to their survival?
Unit Highlight—Whether students realize it or not, daily life provides them with many experiences relating to structure and function. For example, during a sports practice, students demonstrate the need of various structures. They use their eyes to watch the ball in motion and gauge their movement across the field. Their brain continuously sends messages to various muscles, enabling movements such as using their arm to throw, their legs to run, and their hands to catch. Their lungs consistently take in oxygen while their heart pumps that oxygen and food (nutrients) to different areas of the body. Their cells take in the oxygen and food and release energy that allows them to continue practice. Their body produces heat while all this is going on, but different structures prevent overheating by producing sweat. Students utilize a variety of structures, both large and small, to accomplish the task at hand. Earth's diverse array of creatures and plants have unique structures that assist our common quest for survival.
From the STC3 Edition, Structure and Function addresses the performance expectations, and attendant science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts, deemed appropriate for grades 6 through 8 by the Next Generation Science Standards® (NGSS). It allows students to develop an understanding of phenomena that influence the many different fields in the life sciences. By completing this unit, students and teachers alike will develop a better understanding of how structure and function contribute to the survival of organisms.
Each lesson in this unit builds on the skills and concepts presented in previous lessons. As students progress through the unit, they take increasing responsibility for their own learning. Eventually, students plan and conduct their own procedures and analyze the results they obtain. Therefore, the unit should be taught in its entirety; it should not be used as a sourcebook of occasional experiments.
To structure and scaffold the development of students' knowledge, skills, and cognitive reasoning, this unit includes three primary lesson types: pre-assessment, skills and knowledge building, and assessment. The pre-assessment lesson allows educators to assess students' preconceptions, misconceptions, and skills. Skills and knowledge building lessons provide multiple opportunities for students to grow and learn through formative assessment. The assessment lesson includes both performance and written assessment activities that function together as a summative assessment of student learning.
This 1-Class Unit Kit comes with a Teacher Edition, teacher access to Carolinascienceonline.com, 16 reusable hardbound Student Guides (item #513403), student eBook access, and the materials needed for a teacher to teach up to 32 students per day. Note: Among the additional materials that will be needed but not supplied in the kit are 16 microscopes (we recommend item #591182).
The Structure and Function unit addresses the following standards:
Next Generation Science Standards®
Performance Expectations
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Science and Engineering Practices
Crosscutting Concepts
Common Core
English Language Arts
Mathematics