TEKS Addressed: 6.1A, 6.1B, 6.2A, 6.2C, 6.2D, 6.2E, 6.3A, 6.3D, 6.4A, 6.4B, 6.12A, 6.12B, 6.12C, 6.12D

Introduction

This unit bundles Student Expectations that address the basic characteristics of organisms, which classify them into Domains and Kingdoms, and that all living thing are made of cells.

Prior to this Unit

• Grade 3

  • 3.9B – Identify and describe the flow of energy in a food chain and predict how changes in a food chain affect the ecosystem such as removal of frogs from a pond or bees from a field.

  • 3.10A – Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment.

• Grade 4

  • 4.9A – Investigate that most producers need sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food, while consumers are dependent on other organisms for food.

  • 4.9B – Describe the flow of energy through food webs, beginning with the Sun, and predict how changes in the ecosystem affect the food web.

  • 4.10A – Explore how structures and functions enable organisms to survive in their environment.

  • 4.10B – Explore and describe examples of traits that are inherited from parents to offspring such as eye color and shapes of leaves and behaviors that are learned such as reading a book and a wolf pack teaching their pups to hunt effectively.

• Grade 5

  • 5.9B – Describe the flow of energy through food webs, beginning with the Sun, and predict how changes in the ecosystem affect the food web.

  • 5.10A – Compare the structures and functions of different species that help them live and survive in a specific environment such as hooves on prairie animals or webbed feet in aquatic animals.

  • 5.10B – Differentiate between inherited traits of plants and animals such as spines on a cactus or shape of a beak and learned behaviors such as an animal learning tricks or a child riding a bicycle.

During this Unit

Students use scientific practices and a variety of tools to investigate and explore how all living things are composed of cells and recognize that the presence of a nucleus is a factor in determining whether a cell is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. They also identify basic characteristics of organisms, including autotrophic, heterotrophic, unicellular or multicellular, and modes of reproduction that further classify them in the currently recognized Kingdoms. Moreover, students recognize that the taxonomic system is based on understanding differences at the cellular level and the broadest taxonomic classification is divided into currently recognized Domains. They observe organisms using tools, such as microscopes, to gain a deeper understanding of what the basic characteristics look like in different organisms. Students construct tables to compare and contrast characteristics of organisms in order to determine their classification. Additionally, students communicate and discuss their observations and record and organize data in their notebooks. Furthermore, students analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations based on evidence from their investigations and communicate valid conclusions (supported by collected data). Students continue to demonstrate safe practices as outlined in the Texas Education Agency-approved safety standards and consider environmentally appropriate and ethical practices with resources during investigations.

After this Unit

In Grade 7, students will study cell theory, cellular structure and function, and cellular reproduction in greater depth. Additionally, they will examine organisms and use dichotomous keys for classification.