Lesson Plans

Essential- Construct classification systems based on the structure of organism

Performance Objectives:

Describe how organisms are classified

Construct classification systems for grouping organisms

Identify organisms based on existing classification systems

Lesson Plan: Flowers: Form, Function and Sexual Reproduction

Lesson Plan: Insects doing their job;

Lesson Plan: Photosynthesis-leaves make the food;

Lesson Plan: Form and Function- The green plant as a factory

Lesson Plan: Splitting a seed: Form and Function

Essential- Explain the various levels of organization in relation to structure and function within an organism, including cells, tissues and organs

Performance Objectives:

Identify the main structures and functions of organ systems within an organism

Essential- Identify the systems involved in such functions as digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, movement, control and coordination.

Performance Objectives:

Describe how various systems work together to perform a vital function

(Lesson Plan: Flowers: Form, Function and Sexual Reproduction

Essential- Describe the role of genes in heredity

Performance Objectives:

Explain the basic principles of heredity and genetics

(Lesson Plan: Form and Function: Flowers and their pollinators-a graphic organizer

(Final Assessment: You, World Class Botanist, makes a new discovery!)

Essential- Explain and model the interaction and interdependence of living and non-living components within ecosystems, including the adaptation of plants and animals to their environment (and to each other-this is where co-evolution and mutualism are inferred.

Performance Objectives:

Explain the role of living/ non-living components in an ecosystem

Create a model of the interaction of living/non-living components within an ecosystem

STANDARD: SCIENCE AS INQUIRY

(Lesson Plan: Finding out those variables that are necessary for seed germination ;

Lesson Plan: Who Pollinates who? An inquiry into native plant pollinators.)

Essential- Students will be able to identify a question, formulate a hypothesis, control and manipulate variables, devise experiments, predict outcomes, compare and analyze results, and defend conclusions

Performance Objectives:

Design an experiment using the scientific method

Conduct an experiment using the scientific method

Analyze the results of an experiment

Defend conclusions drawn from the analysis

Explain cause and effect of variables within their experiment

Essential- Organize and present data gathered from their own experiences, using appropriate mathematical analyses and graphical representations

Performance Objectives:

Construct a representation of data

Interpret data in collected data

Essential- Identify and refine questions from a previous investigation

Performance Objectives:

Analyze the results of previous investigations

Refine hypotheses from a previous investigation.