7Th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science

7th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science 2014-2015 Reporting Cluster: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems Topic Knowledge: Assessments: Interdependent In addition to score 3.0 performance, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications Relationships in Ecosystems that go beyond the target.

Students demonstrate they have developed an understanding of:

 given adequate biotic and abiotic resources and no disease or predators, populations (including humans) increase at rapid rates  The number of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources available and abiotic factors  symbiotic relationships among organisms  the energy flow through an ecosystem from sunlight through organisms

Students will recognize or recall:

Specific vocabulary such as: organism, population, community, ecosystem, biotic, abiotic, predator, prey, symbiosis, producer, consumer, decomposer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, parasite, host, limiting factors, carrying capacity, overpopulation, niche, food chain, food web

Basic knowledge such as:  living things are interdependent in an ecosystem  the difference between biotic and abiotic factors  the number of living things in an ecosystem is dependent on resources available within the ecosystem  the characteristics of producers, consumers and decomposers  general ecosystem organization  how to interpret a food chain and food web

Student’s performance reflects insufficient progress towards foundational skills and knowledge. 7th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science 2014-2015

Reporting Cluster: Independent Relationships in Ecosystems Topic Knowledge: Assessments: Natural Selection and In addition to score 3.0 performance, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications Adaptations that go beyond the target.

Students demonstrate they have developed an understanding of:

 species acquire many of their unique characteristics through biological adaptation which involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations

 Biological adaptations include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and reproductive success in a particular environment

Students will recognize or recall:

Specific vocabulary such as: natural selection, adaptation, evolution, traits, mutation, genes, DNA

Basic knowledge such as:  some changes in traits are beneficial, while others cause a species to decline  evolution is small genetic changes over long periods of time  adaptation helps organisms to survive and reproduce in their environment  the differences between types of adaptations

Student’s performance reflects insufficient progress towards foundational skills and knowledge. 7th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science 2014-2015

Reporting Cluster: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems Topic Knowledge: Assessments: Environmental Issues and 4 In addition to score 3.0 Human Impacts performance, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications that go beyond the target. 3 Students demonstrate they Proficient have developed an understanding of:

 the impact of industrialization and human population growth  steps individuals can take to lessen their negative impact on the environment  scientific evidence surrounding global climate change

2 Students will recognize or recall:

Specific vocabulary such as: pollution, conservation, extinction, endangered, deforestation, invasive species, habitat destruction, biodiversity, 7th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science 2014-2015 reduce, reuse, recycle, renewable, non-renewable, biodegradable, conservation, global climate change

Basic knowledge such as:  human behaviors impact the environment in both negative and positive ways (3 R’s)  resources are finite

1 Student’s performance reflects insufficient progress towards foundational skills and knowledge.

Suggested Instructional Resources 7th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science 2014-2015 Sample Learner Objectives Topic Textbook Resources Labs PBL Ideas Web Resources – websites (projects) or resources on http://science.dmschools.org

 I can use a food web or Interdependent food chain to determine Relationships in relationships among Ecosystems organisms.

 I can construct explanations for common patterns of interactions within ecosystems.

 I can use known environmental factors to hypothesize future success of a given population within an ecosystem.

Natural Selection and  I can construct Adaptations explanations for how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individual’s probability of surviving and reproducing.

Environmental Issues  I can explain how human actions affect the and Human Impacts environment in both positive and negative ways.

 I can discuss the impact of industrialization and human impact growth on the environment. 7th Grade Science Unit 4: Environmental Science 2014-2015