Animals
Animals #1
Students will complete an activity in teams where they explore the differences between invertabrates and vertabrates along with the different characteristics of each of the five classes of vertebrates. Students will then be introduced to various members of our live animal collection. Students will be taught about different defense mechanisms, predators and prey, and other adaptations and methods of survival that animals use in the wild. |
Animals #2
Students will learn the definitions of a population, community, and ecosystem. An activity will then be completed in teams to help students develop a visual understanding of these terms. Each team will be given a variety of images which they will have the task of placing into their respective locations on a graphic organizer. The five relationships within a community will then be explained. As the lesson's concepts are reviewed, students will be introduced to various members of our live animal collection. |
Benchmarks Covered
5-PS3- 1
Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.
5-LS2- 1
Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS1- 6
Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.
MS-LS2- 1
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem. AE
MS-LS2- 3
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
MS-LS2- 4
Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
MS-LS2- 2
Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
MS-LS1- 4
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.
Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.
5-LS2- 1
Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
MS-LS1- 6
Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.
MS-LS2- 1
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem. AE
MS-LS2- 3
Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
MS-LS2- 4
Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
MS-LS2- 2
Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
MS-LS1- 4
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.