Unit 4 Dynamic Equilibrium: Other Organisms

Unit Overview:

This unit continues building understanding of the structure and function of other organisms, by exploring body systems of plants and other animals, including single-celled organisms and invertebrates. Students will compare and contrast how these organisms regulate and maintain homeostasis, drawing conclusions about their physical needs and how they maintain a dynamic equilibrium.

Essential Questions:

How do differences in structures or functions promote biodiversity among living things?

How do living things function to maintain a dynamic equilibrium?

How do organisms adapt to their environment in order to survive?

How do differences in structure and/or function influence biodiversity among living things?

 

Key Ideas:

LE. Key Idea 1: Living things are both similar to and different from each other and from nonliving things. LE. Key Idea 5: Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life.

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS 

ELA/Literacy

RST.6–8.3: Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

RST.6–8.4: Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to Grades 6–8 texts and topics.

WHST.6–8.4: Produce a clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

WHST.6–8.5: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

Mathematics

7.SP.A.1: Understand that statistics can be used to gain information about a population by examining a sample of the population; generalizations about a population from a sample are valid only if the sample is representative of that population. Understand that random sampling tends to produce representative samples and support valid inferences.

7.SP.A.2: Use data from a random sample to draw inferences about a population with an unknown characteristic of interest. Generate multiple samples (or simulated samples) of the same size to gauge the variation in estimates or predictions.