• Back

  • High School

    From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

  1. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis. HS-LS1-3

    Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

A Peformance Expectation (PE) is what a student should be able to do to show mastery of a concept. Some PEs include a Clarification Statement and/or an Assessment Boundary. These can be found by clicking the PE for "More Info." By hovering over a PE, its corresponding pieces from the Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts will be highlighted.

Science and Engineering Practices

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

By clicking on a specific Science and Engineering Practice, Disciplinary Core Idea, or Crosscutting Concept, you can find out more information on it. By hovering over one you can find its corresponding elements in the PEs.

Planning Curriculum

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy

  • WHST.11-12.7 - Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS-LS1-3)
  • WHST.11-12.8 - Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation. (HS-LS1-3)

Model Course Mapping

First Time Visitors

Resources & Lesson Plans

  • More resources added each week!
    A team of teacher curators is working to find, review, and vet online resources that support the standards. Check back often, as NSTA continues to add more targeted resources.
  • Conceptualizing A System: Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology: Systems, Subsystems and Balance

    This unit challenges high school students to uncover answers for the cause of death of a teenage football player while building an understanding of the role of the urinary system in maintaining homeostasis. The unit first engages students by watching ...

  • Human Homeostasis

    This interactive simulation of human homeostasis provides students the opportunity to explore how our body maintains a stable internal environment in spite of of the outside conditions, within certain limits. This simulation allows students to invest ...

  • Do you have a great resource to share with the community? Click here.
  •  Homeostasis and Negative Feedback – Concepts and Breath ...

    This minds-on, hands-on activity begins with analysis and discussion questions that develop student understanding of homeostasis, negative feedback, and positive feedback. Next, students analyze examples of how breathing changes at high altitude and ...

  •  Summary of Cell: Animal - Energy & Storage

    The goal of the Animal Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

  •  Summary of Cell: Animal - Function

    The goal of the Animal Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

  •  Summary of Cell: Plant - Energy & Storage

    The goal of the Plant Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

  •  Summary of Cell: Plant - Function

    The goal of the Plant Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

Planning Curriculum gives connections to other areas of study for easier curriculum creation.