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    From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations

  1. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively. MS-LS1-4

    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

  • RI.6.8 - Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not. (MS-LS1-4)
  • RST.6-8.1 - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts. (MS-LS1-4)
  • WHST.6-8.1 - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts. (MS-LS1-4)

Mathematics

  • 6.SP.A.2 - Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape. (MS-LS1-4)
  • 6.SP.B.4 - Display numerical data in plots on a number line, including dot plots, histograms, and box plots. (MS-LS1-4)

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.
  • UNIT: NestWatch Backyard Investigation

    This is a three-lesson unit that is part of a nationwide effort to monitor bird nesting and reproductive success. This unit provides students with enough background to participate in citizen science and is connected with Cornell University Ornitholog ...

  • Data Nuggets: Beetle Battles

    “Beetle Battles” is one lesson from the Data Nuggets website. Data Nuggets are lessons that originated from a partnership of teachers and scientists to address both the needs of scientists to share their research broadly and improve their ...

  • STEM: Have Seeds, Will Travel

    This is one activity out of the Project Learning Tree  Pre K-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide. Project Learning Tree® (PLT) is a program of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative that offers high-quality instructional materials for grad ...

  • Bat Echolocation (Phenomenon)

    This short (1:05 min) slow motion video shows a bat using echolocation to capture a moth.     This phenomenon could stimulate the following driving questions: How do bats locate their prey in the dark? How can bats t ...

  • Flowers Seeking Pollinators

    This is one of many lessons provided by the California Academy of Sciences whose mission is to bring science to life in the classroom.In this activity, students learn about plant reproduction and use real data on flowers and the pollinators that visi ...

  • Reproduction

    In this activity, the learner explores various ways in which organisms reproduce. The learner discusses the role that reproduction plays in the cycle of life. By watching short videos and participating in follow-up discussion: 1. They observe ...

  • Plants and Animals, Partners in Pollination

    This online unit explores the theme of the National Zoo's Pollinarium exhibition: how plant and animal partners interact to accomplish pollination. It is a series of three lessons that allow the learner to explore and develop an understanding of ...

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  •  Legends of Learning - Animal Reproduction Strategies

    In this series of games, your students will learn about the behaviors animals use to raise their chances of reproducing. The Animal Reproduction Strategies learning objective — based on NGSS and state standards — delivers improved student engagement ...

  •  Legends of Learning - Plant Reproduction Strategies

    In this series of games, your students will learn about the vehicles and processes of plant reproduction. The Plant Reproduction Strategies learning objective — based on NGSS and state standards — delivers improved student engagement and academic per...

  •  Bird Academy - All About Fancy Males

    Online interactive from Cornell's Bird Academy exploring how male birds use a variety of methods (including color, dance, and song) to attract mates.

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