S7L4
Students will examine the dependence of organisms on one another and their environments.
S7L4.a
Demonstrate in a food web that matter is transferred from one organism to another and can recycle between organisms and their environments.
S7L4.b
Explain in a food web that sunlight is the source of energy and that this energy moves from organism to organism.
S7L4.c
Recognize that changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of both individuals and entire species.
S7L4.d
Categorize relationships between organisms that are competitive or mutually beneficial.
S7L4.e
Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e. tropical rain forest, savannah, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e. freshwater, estuaries, and marine).
Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environments. Sunlight is the source of energy in a food web because it gives off nutrients to plants or producers that then make food for the animals or consumers. Environmental changes can affect the survival of individuals or species if they cannot adapt to it because if they cannot adapt to it that individual or species can die out or become extinct. Relationships between organisms that are competitive are like predator, prey situations, when only one organism gets a good thing out of the situation. Mutual relationships are when every organism is fine or gets something good out of the situation. The characteristic of earths terrestrial biomes are
Taiga: This biome is dominated by evergreen coniferous forests . These trees can withstand the long winters when the trees must go without moisture due to the frozen ground.
Desert: Characterized by sparse vegetation. Much of the vegetation is dry. Few trees.
Grassland: This biome is often associated with semi-arid conditions and is dominated by grasses. Trees are often found in low spots or near streams where the tree’s roots can access groundwater.
Savanna: This biome refers to tropical savanna. Savanna is dominated by tall grasses. These tropical areas experience pronounced dry and wet seasons, which, in part, explains why fewer trees are found here.
Rainforest: This biome refers to tropical rainforest regions of the world that are found at low latitudes. Broadleaf evergreen forests dominate these areas, many of which receive over 80 inches of rain a year.
Tundra: A lack of trees characterizes tundra areas. Tree growth is hindered due to the cold temperatures and short summers.
Temperate Forest: This biome is found in parts of the world with cool winters and warm summers. Precipitation is enough to sustain tree growth of both deciduous and coniferous trees.
And Some Aquatic Communities
Marine Regions: Marine regions cover about three-fourths of the Earth’s surface and include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. Marine algae supply much of the world’s oxygen supply and take in a huge amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The evaporation of the seawater provides rainwater for the land.
Freshwater Regions: Freshwater is defined as having a low salt concentration—usually less than 1%. Plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to the low salt content and would not be able to survive in areas of high salt concentration. There are different types of freshwater regions: ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands. The following sections describe the characteristics of these three freshwater zones.
Estuaries: Estuaries are areas where freshwater streams or rivers merge with the ocean. This mixing of waters with such different salt concentrations creates a very interesting and unique ecosystem. Algae, seaweeds, marsh grasses, and mangrove trees can be found here. Estuaries support a diverse fauna, including a variety of worms, oysters, crabs, and waterfowl.
S7L3
Students will recognize how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
S7L3.a
Explain the role of genes and chromosomes in the process of inheriting a specific trait.
S7L3.b
Compare and contrast that organisms reproduce asexually and sexually (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants & animals).
S7L3.c
Recognize that selective breeding can produce plants or animals with desired traits.
Traits are passed from one generation to the next when genetic material in DNA is passed down during the reproduction process. In people, half the DNA comes from the mother and half comes from the father, so a child can exhibit traits of both parents. What traits show up depend on what genes are dominant, as well as what genes are switched 'on' throughout the child's life. Chromosomes carry the genetic materials. There are dominant and recessive chromosomes for all traits and chromosomes come in pairs one from your mom and one from your dad. Bacteria, protists, fungi, plants all reproduce asexually because they cannot have a partner when reproducing and don't have the correct forms of cells. Animals can either asexually or sexually reproduce, depending on its cells and the animal. Selective breeding can produce desired traits in plants and animals because you are crossing and choosing what traits you want in a specific organism.
S7L2
Students will describe the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
S7L2.a
Explain that cells take in nutrients in order to grow and divide and to make needed materials.
S7L2.b
Relate cell structures (cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria) to basic cell functions.
S7L2.c
Explain that cells are organized into tissues, tissues into organs, organs into systems, and systems into organisms.
S7L2.d
Explain that tissues, organs, and organ systems serve the needs cells have for oxygen, food, and waste removal.
S7L2.e
Explain the purpose of the major organ systems in the human body (i.e., digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, movement, control, and coordination, and for protection from disease).
Cells are the smallest living component of life. Many similar cells together composes a tissue. A variety of tissue types working together to complete a specific function is an organ. Several organs that work together with similar purposes is an organ system.
The Cell Cycle is how cells grow and divide to make needed materials:
•Copying DNA (Interphase) Before mitosis begins, chromosomes are
copied. Each chromosome is then two chromatids.
• Mitosis Phase 1 (Prophase) Mitosis begins. The nuclear membrane
dissolves. Chromosomes condense into rodlike structures.
• Mitosis Phase 2 (Metaphase) The chromosomes line up along the
equator of the cell. Homologous chromosomes pair up.
• Mitosis Phase 3 (Anaphase) The chromatids separate and move to
opposite sides of the cell.
• Mitosis Phase 4 (Telophase) A nuclear membrane forms around each set
of chromosomes, and the chromosomes unwind. Mitosis is complete.
• Cytokinesis In cells that lack a cell wall, the cell pinches in two. In cells
that have a cell wall, a cell plate forms between the two new cells.
The cell membrane regulates the entrance and exit of substances thus maintaining internal balance. It also protects the inner cell from damage and helps a cell to absorb molecules by engulfing them. The nucleus maintains the integrity of DNA and cell activities which include metabolism, growth and reproduction. The cytoplasm is to provide support to the internal structures of a cell by being a medium for their suspension. As such, it helps to maintain the shape and consistency of the cell. The cytoplasm also acts as a site for vital metabolic reactions. The chloroplast aids in the transfer of carbohydrate to all parts of the plant aiding in a plants survival. It also captures light energy which is stored in the energy storage molecules ATP for use in the process of photosynthesis. The main function of the mitochondria is to produce energy for various parts of the body. It also helps in the building of certain parts of the blood and hormones like testosterone and the estrogens. The circulatory system is the body's transport system. The digestive system is made up of organs that break down food into protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fats, which the body needs for energy, growth, and repair. The endocrine system is made up of a group of glands that produce the body's long-distance messengers, or hormones. The immune system is our body's defense system against infections and diseases. The lymphatic system is also a defense system for the body. The muscular system is made up of tissues that work with the skeletal system to control movement of the body. The nervous system is your body's control system. The reproductive system allows humans to produce children. The respiratory system brings air into the body and removes carbon dioxide. The urinary system eliminates waste from the body. The skeletal system works with the muscular system to help the body move.
S7L1
Students will investigate the diversity of living organisms and how they can be compared scientifically.
S7L1.a
Demonstrate the process for the development of a dichotomous key.
S7L1.b
Classify organisms based on physical characteristics using a dichotomous key of the six kingdom system (archaebacteria, eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals). 
In science the practice of classifying organisms is called taxonomy. Taxonomy shows physical characteristics of organisms that can be identified and differentiate between different species, and is based around genetics. Modern taxonomy is based on many hypotheses of the evolutionary history of organisms. As with the Scientific Method, scientists develop a hypothesis on the history of an animal and utilise modern science and technology to prove the phylogeny. Cladistics is a classification system which is based on phylogeny. Expanding on phylogeny, cladistics is based on the assumption that each group of related species has one common ancestor and would therefore retain some ancestral characteristics. As these related species evolve and diverge from their common ancestor, they would develop unique characteristics. The principles of phylogeny and cladistics can be expressed visually as a cladogram, a branching diagram which acts as a family tree for similar species. Under the three domains are six kingdoms in taxonomy, Protista, Plants, Animals, Fungi, Eubacteria, And Archae.
S7L1
Students will investigate the diversity of living organisms and how they can be compared scientifically.
S7L1.a
Demonstrate the process for the development of a dichotomous key.
S7L1.b
Classify organisms based on physical characteristics using a dichotomous key of the six kingdom system (archaebacteria, eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals).
S7L2
Students will describe the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
S7L2.a
Explain that cells take in nutrients in order to grow and divide and to make needed materials.
S7L2.b
Relate cell structures (cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria) to basic cell functions.
S7L2.c
Explain that cells are organized into tissues, tissues into organs, organs into systems, and systems into organisms.
S7L2.d
Explain that tissues, organs, and organ systems serve the needs cells have for oxygen, food, and waste removal.
S7L2.e
Explain the purpose of the major organ systems in the human body (i.e., digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, movement, control, and coordination, and for protection from disease).
S7L3
Students will recognize how biological traits are passed on to successive generations.
S7L3.a
Explain the role of genes and chromosomes in the process of inheriting a specific trait.
S7L3.b
Compare and contrast that organisms reproduce asexually and sexually (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants & animals).
S7L3.c
Recognize that selective breeding can produce plants or animals with desired traits.
S7L4
Students will examine the dependence of organisms on one another and their environments.
S7L4.a
Demonstrate in a food web that matter is transferred from one organism to another and can recycle between organisms and their environments.
S7L4.b
Explain in a food web that sunlight is the source of energy and that this energy moves from organism to organism.
S7L4.c
Recognize that changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of both individuals and entire species.
S7L4.d
Categorize relationships between organisms that are competitive or mutually beneficial.
S7L4.e
Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e. tropical rain forest, savannah, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e. freshwater, estuaries, and marine).
S7L5
Students will examine the evolution of living organisms through inherited characteristics that promote survival of organisms and the survival of successive generations of their offspring.
S7L5.a
Explain that physical characteristics of organisms have changed over successive generations (e.g. Darwin’s finches and peppered moths of Manchester).
S7L5.b
Describe ways in which species on earth have evolved due to natural selection.
S7L5.c
Trace evidence that the fossil record found in sedimentary rock provides evidence for the long history of changing life forms.
