8th Grade Science Unit 9

Big Idea:

A community contains many populations that interact in their energy roles and in their competition for resources. Populations can change, affecting the community.

Student Expectations:

Focus TEKS

8.11(A) [Readiness] Investigate how organism and populations in an ecosystem depend on and may compete for biotic factors such as food and abiotic factors such as quantity of light, water, range of temperatures, or soil composition

Focus TEKS

8.11(B) [Readiness] Explore how short and long term environmental changes affect organisms and traits in subsequent populations

8.11(C) [Readiness] Recognize human dependence on ocean systems and explain how human activities such as runoff, artificial reefs, or use of resources have modified these systems.

Ongoing TEKS

8.1(A) [Tools to Know] Demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and field investigations as outlined in the Texas Safety Standards.

8.1(B) [Tools to Know] practice appropriate use and conservation of resources, including disposal, reuse, or recycling of materials

8.2(A) [Tools to Know] Plan and implement comparative and descriptive investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, and using appropriate equipment and technology.

8.2(B) [Tools to Know] design and implement comparative and experimental investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and using appropriate equipment and technology

8.2(C) [Ways to Show] Collect and record data using the International System of Units (SI) and qualitative means such as labeled drawings, writing, and graphic organizers

8.2(D) [Ways to Show] construct tables and graphs, using repeated trials and means, to organize data and identify patterns

8.2(E) [Ways to Show] analyze data to formulate reasonable explanations, communicate valid conclusions supported by the data, and predict trends

8.3(A) [Ways to Show] In all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student

8.3(B) [Ways to Show] use models to represent aspects of the natural world such as an atom, a molecule, space, or a geologic feature

8.3(C) [Ways to Show] identify advantages and limitations of models such as size, scale, properties, and materials

8.3(D) [Ways to Show] relate the impact of research on scientific thought and society, including the history of science and contributions of scientists as related to the content

8.4(A) [Tools to Know] ) use appropriate tools to collect, record, and analyze information, including lab journals/notebooks, beakers, meter sticks, graduated cylinders, anemometers, psychrometers, hot plates, test tubes, spring scales, balances, microscopes, thermometers, calculators, computers, spectroscopes, timing devices, and other equipment as needed to teach the curriculum

8.4(B) [Tools to Know] use preventative safety equipment, including chemical splash goggles, aprons, and gloves, and be prepared to use emergency safety equipment, including an eye/face wash, a fire blanket, and a fire extinguisher

Student Learning Targets:

• I will know of a population varies due to competition for resources, limiting factors, and carrying capacity.
• I will know the difference between biotic and abiotic factors and how the interaction between these factors affect the size of a population.
• I will that organisms in a community interact with each other to obtain energy and carry out life processes.

Essential Questions:

• What causes competition?
• How does population size affect the organisms in it?
• How do the populations in a community interact?
• How do environmental factors influence traits?
• What are some ways adaptations help species survive in changing environments?
• How does pollution affect marine organisms?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook: Texas STEM, McGraw-Hill

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center