| Arizona Standards
Science Standards
(Adopted 6.23.97 and Amended on
8.24.98)
Standard 4: Life
Science
Students understand the characteristics of
living things, the diversity of life and how organisms change over
time in terms of biological adaptation and genetics. Students
understand the interrelationships of matter and energy in living
organisms and the interactions of living organisms with their
environment.
READINESS
(Kindergarten)
Students know and are able to do the
following:
- 4SC-R1. Distinguish living from
non-living things
PO 1. Identify living
things
PO 2. Identify non-living
things
PO 3. Describe differences
between living and non-living things
- 4SC-R2. Describe the basic needs
of living organisms
PO 1. Describe the basic needs of
living organisms for survival
- 4SC-R3. Recognize and distinguish
similarities and differences in diverse species
PO 1. Identify observable
similarities among diverse species (e.g., number of legs, body
coverings, size)
PO 2. Identify observable
differences among diverse species
PO 3. Compare the observable
similarities and differences among diverse
species
FOUNDATIONS (Grades
1-3)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and the following:
- 4SC-F1. Describe and explain
cause-and-effect relationships in living
systems
PO 1. Identify cause-and-effect
relationships in living systems
PO 2. Explain cause-and-effect
relationships in living systems
- 4SC-F2. Trace the life cycles of
various organisms
PO 1.
Identify the stages in a life cycle
PO 2. Record life cycle stages in
sequence
- 4SC-F3. Identify the basic
structures and functions of plants and
animals
PO 1. Identify basic animal
structures
PO 2. Describe the functions of
basic animal structures
PO 3. Identify basic plant
structures
PO 4. Describe the functions of
basic plant structures
- 4SC-F4. Identify characteristics
of plants and animals (including extinct organisms) that allow
them to live in specific environments
PO 1. Identify adaptations of
plants that allow them to live in specific
environments
PO 2. Identify adaptations of
animals that allow them to live in specific
environments
- 4SC-F5. Recognize that component
parts make up the human body systems (e.g., digestive, muscular,
skeletal)
PO 1. Identify major organs
(e.g., lungs, heart, skin) within systems
- 4SC-F6. Recognize that offspring
within families have both similarities and
differences
PO 1. Identify similarities that
offspring can have within a family
PO 2. Identify differences that
offspring can have within a family
- 4SC-F7. Explain the interaction
of living and non-living components within
ecosystems
PO 1. Identify living components
within ecosystems
PO 2. Identify non-living
components within ecosystems
PO 3. Describe the interaction
among living and non-living components in an
ecosystem
ESSENTIALS (Grades
4-8)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and the following:
- 4SC-E1. Construct classification
systems based on the structure of organisms
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Construct a simple
classification system based on physical
characteristics
PO 2. Arrange several organisms
into a classification system
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe how organisms are
classified
PO 2. Construct classification
systems for grouping organisms
PO 3. Identify organisms based on
existing classification systems
- 4SC-E2. Compare and contrast the
basic structures, components and functions of various
cells
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Identify the basic
structures of various cells
PO 2. Identify the basic
functions of various cells
PO 3. Differentiate between the
basic functions of various cells
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Analyze the basic
structures, components and functions of various
cells
PO 2. Differentiate among types
of various cells
- 4SC-E3. Explain the various
levels of organization in relationship to structure and function
within an organism, including cells, tissues and
organs
(Grades
4-5)
PO 1. Identify the main
structures of cells within an organism
PO 2. Identify the main
structures of tissues within an organism
PO 3. Identify the main
structures of organs within an organism
PO 4. Identify the
interrelationships among cells, tissues and organs
(Grades
6-8)
PO 1. Distinguish among cells,
tissues and organs
PO 2. Identify the main
structures and functions of cells within an
organism
PO 3. Identify the main
structures and functions of tissue within an
organism
PO 4. Identify the main
structures and functions of organ systems within an organism
- 4SC-E4. Identify the systems
involved in such vital functions as digestion, respiration,
reproduction, circulation, excretion, movement, control and
coordination
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Identify the major
components of vital body systems
PO 2. Identify the functions of
systems (e.g., digestion, respiration, reproduction,
circulation, excretion, movement, control,
coordination)
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe how various
systems work together to perform a vital
function
- 4SC-E5. Describe changes or
constancy in groups of organisms over geologic
time
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Describe how organisms have
changed over time
PO 2. Cite examples of organisms
which have remained relatively
constant
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Describe organism
adaptations or constancy over geologic time
PO 2. Identify environmental
factors that may determine adaptations or constancy of an
organism over geologic time
- 4SC-E6. Describe the role of
genes in heredity
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1. Define the terms heredity
and genes
PO 2. Distinguish between
physical characteristics which are, and are not,
inherited
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Explain the basic
principles of heredity and genetics
PO 2. Distinguish between
dominant and recessive traits
PO 3. Describe information that
is carried in a gene
- 4SC-E7. 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
(Grades 4-5)
PO 1.
Describe the components of an ecosystem
PO 2. Describe how living and
non-living components interact within an ecosystem
PO 3. Describe how living and
non-living components are interdependent within an
ecosystem
PO 4. Explain how plant species
adapt to their environment
(Grades 6-8)
PO 1. Explain the role of
living/non-living components in an ecosystem
PO 2.
Create a model of the interaction of living/non-living
components within an ecosystem
PROFICIENCY (Grades
9-12)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and the following:
- 4SC-P1. Use and construct a
variety of classification systems, including evolutionary
relationships.
PO 1. Employ classification
systems to identify organisms
PO 2. Create classification
systems to identify organisms
PO 3. Use a biological
classification scheme to infer and discuss the degree of
divergence of various species from prior
organisms
- 4SC-P2. Describe the molecular
basis of heredity (e.g., DNA, genes, chromosomes and
mutations)
PO 1. Explain the relationships
among DNA, genes and chromosomes
PO 2. Describe the structure and
function of DNA and its role in heredity
PO 3. Describe how the various
types of mutations may act as a source of genetic
diversity
PO 4. Describe how genetic
information is transmitted from parents to
offspring
-
4SC-P3. Describe the basic cellular processes of
photosynthesis, respiration, protein synthesis and cell division
PO 1. Differentiate between the
processes of photosynthesis and respiration in terms of energy
flow, reactants and products
PO 2. Describe the process of
protein synthesis
PO 3. Compare the purpose and
process of mitosis with the purpose and process of
meiosis
- 4SC-P4. Describe and explain the
cycling of matter and the flow of energy through the
ecosystem’s living and non-living
components
PO 1.
Explain the relationships among abiotic and biotic components of
an ecosystem in terms of energy flow and the cycling of matter
- 4SC-P5. Describe and explain how
energy is used in the maintenance, repair, growth and
development of cells
PO 1. Describe the energy demands
required by physiological mechanisms needed to regulate
homeostasis
PO 2. Describe the energy demands
required by cells for growth, development and
repair
- 4SC-P6. Describe and explain how
the environment can affect the number of species and the
diversity of species in an environment
PO 1. Explain how the adaptations
of various species are related to their success in an
ecosystem
PO 2. Explain why genetic
variation within a population can impact the success of a
species subjected to new environmental
conditions
PO 3. Predict how a change in an
environmental factor can affect the number of organisms in a
population
PO 4. Predict how a change in an
environmental factor can affect the biodiversity in an
ecosystem
- 4SC-P7. Describe the role of the
systems (e.g., nervous, digestive, respiratory) that regulate
the behaviors of multi-celled organisms
PO 1. Describe the physiological
relationship of the systems and their function in
homeostasis
PO 2. Describe an
organism’s behavioral responses to internal and external
stimuli
PO 3. Compare the selective
advantage of several behavioral
Responses
- 4SC-P8. Explain how evolution
provides a scientific explanation for the fossil record of
ancient life forms, as well as for the striking molecular
similarities observed among the diverse species of living
organisms.
PO 1. Using fossil
records, trace the changes in number and type of organisms over
time.
PO 2. Compare the fossil reocrd
of one ancient organism to the modern form of that organism
(e.g. ammonite to nautilus, eohippus to horse) identifying
nolecular and/or structural similarities.
- 4SC-P9. Use scientific evidence
to demonstrate that descent from common ancestors produced
today’s diversity of organisms over more than 3.5 billion
years of evolution.
PO 1. Using scientific evidence, (e.g., the fossil
record, homologous structures, embryological development or
biochemical similarities) illustrate that descent from common
ancestors produced today's diversity of
organisms.
- 4SC-P10. Demonstrate an
understanding of the theory of evolution by natural selection as
a consequence of (1) the potential for a species to increase its
numbers, (2) the genetic variability of offspring due to
mutation and recombination of genes, (3) a finite supply of the
resources required for life, and (4) the ensuing selection by
the environment of those offspring better able to survive and
leave offspring
PO1. Identify the components
of natural selection
PO2. Predict the success or failure of a population of
organisims over time when exposed to changing environmental
factors
PO3. Predict the success or failure of a population of
organisms over time based on the genetic variability of
offspring and ability to reproduce
DISTINCTION
(Honors)
Students know and are able to do all of the above and the
following:
- 4SC-D1. Analyze the general
structure and function of DNA and its role in heredity, protein
synthesis, and disease as a vehicle for genetic continuity and
as a source of genetic diversity upon which natural selection
can act
- 4SC-D2. Explain the role of
exposure to certain factors (e.g., sunlight, ozone, nitrates)
that may increase the rate of mutation, the incidence of cancer
and other diseases, or the opportunities for other
adaptations
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