Micro-Life

In this unit we will learn about cells, photosynthesis, genetics, evolution, and diseases.  We will conclude with a section on disease and HIV prevention.

Click below for unit assignments organized by these essential outcomes.  Exemplary past work samples are below assignments.

• Cells

• Photosynthesis/Respiration

• Genetics

• Evolution

• HIV Prevention

• Disease (not used since 2019)

Week 1 (Jan 3): We will have an introduction to the characteristics of all living things and cells, including an experiment to show why cells are so small and a model of a cell membrane. We will learn about and practice with microscopes. The Point: All living things are made of cells Describe how plant and animal cells are similar and different in structure and function  (NGSS MS-LS1-1, MS-LS1-2).

Week 2 (Jan 9): We will compare animal and plant cells using microscopes. We will design and build cell models.  The Point: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function.  Describe how plant and animal cells are similar and different in structure and function (NGSS MS-LS1-2).

Week 3 (Jan 16): We will review cells and take a post test.  The Point: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function.  Describe how plant and animal cells are similar and different in structure and function (NGSS MS-LS1-2). 

Week 4 (Jan 23): We will learn photosynthesis and respiration by modeling, experimenting, and taking notes.  The Point: Diagram the cycling of matter and flow of energy in photosynthesis and respiration (NGSS MS-LS1-6).

Week 5 (Jan 30): We will continue with photosynthesis and start a hydroponics engineering challenge with bean plants. We will check on our (hopefully) living bean plants, wrap up photosynthesis and dissect seeds and flowers to learn about plant reproduction.  The Point: Describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that are used for growth and energy in organisms (NGSS MS-LS1-7). Specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of plants (NGSS MS-LS1-4) Plants reproduce in a variety of ways, sometimes depending on animal behavior and specialized features for reproduction. (NGSS MS-LS1.B)

Week 6 (Feb 6): We will take the photosynthesis post test then delve into genetics by looking at asexual/sexual reproduction and Punnett squares. The Point: Describe how sexual reproduction can result in offspring with genetic variation (NGSS MS-LS3-2) 

Week 7 (Feb 13): We will learn about and make two different DNA models. The Point: Describe how sexual reproduction can result in offspring with genetic variation (NGSS MS-LS3-2)

Week 8 (Feb 20): We will re-visit asexual and sexual reproduction to cap off our genetics work and keep going with our hydroponics challenge. The Point: Describe how sexual reproduction can result in offspring with genetic variation (NGSS MS-LS3-2)

Week 9 (Feb 27): We will do an inheritance model then show our learning of genetics by taking the post test. The Point: Describe how sexual reproduction can result in offspring with genetic variation (NGSS MS-LS3-2)

Week 10 (Mar 6): We will learn about the nature of science, then delve into adaptations (smart parts and smart moves that help an organism survive in its environment), then model with computers how adaptations help organisms survive.  The Point: Describe how adaptations lead to natural selection (NGSS MS-LS4-4)

Week 11 (Mar 13): We will get into natural selection using computer simulations. The Point: Describe how adaptations lead to natural selection (NGSS MS-LS4-4)

Week 12 (Mar 20): We will learn what biological evolution means and analyze the evidence for evolution.  The Point: Biological evolution, supported by many lines of evidence including fossils, anatomy, molecules and embryos, gives rise to the fantastic diversity of life on Earth today and in the past. (NGSS MS-LS4-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -6)

Week 13 (Mar 27): We will wrap up evolution and take a post test on evolution.  The Point: Evolution, supported by many lines of evidence including fossils, anatomy, molecules and embryos, gives rise to the fantastic diversity of life on Earth today and in the past. (NGSS MS-LS4-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -6)  

Week 14 (Apr 10): We will have a guest presenter help teach us about sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS prevention. The Point: Learn how diseases can be controlled or stopped. (NGSS MS-ETS1-1)

Week 15 (Apr 17): We will continue with sexually transmitted diseases and human health. The Point: Learn how diseases can be controlled or stopped. (NGSS MS-ETS1-1)

Weeks on Disease used 2019 and before:

• We will learn the "who's who" of microbes and conduct a bacterial growth experiment around the school. The Point: Learn what causes diseases. (NGSS MS-ETS1-3)

• We will get "down with disease" by doing labs on the spread of disease and a disease research project. The Point: Learn how diseases spread. (NGSS MS-LS1-3)

• We will get into disease prevention by doing an antibacterial investigation and hand-washing lab. The Point: Learn how diseases can be controlled or stopped. (NGSS MS-ETS1-3)

• We will learn about treatment and take a quiz on our disease section.   The Point: Learn how diseases can be controlled or stopped. (NGSS MS-LS1-3)

Documents and assignments are linked below

Cells: 

• Introduction to Cells * 

• Comparing Cells *

• Cell Model *

• Cell Experiments *

• Cell Webquest *

• Biology of Lakes *

• Jeopardy Cell Review

  • Cell Jeopardy Answers

• Go to Edulastic.com to take pre/post/retake tests; use pre test to study for post test. Complete "Cell Webquest" to be eligible for a test retake.

  • Test: Cells

  • Cells Retake Test Prerequisite (Ticket)

Photosynthesis & Respiration:

• Introduction to Photosynthesis *

• Photosynthesis Model *

• Photosynthesis Investigation *

• Introduction to Respiration *

• Respiration Investigation *

• Hydroponics Challenge *

• Plants *

• Jeopardy Photosynthesis

  • Photosynthesis Jeopardy Answers

• Go to Edulastic.com to take pre/post/retake tests; use pre test to study for post test. Complete "Photosynthesis Review (Part 3) and Respiration Review (Part 2)" to be eligible for a test retake.

  • Test: Photosynthesis & Respiration

  • Photosynthesis Retake Test Prerequisite (Ticket)

Genetics:

• Introduction to Genes *

• DNA *

• DNA Model *

• Punnett Squares *

• Inheritance Model *

• Genetics Webquest *

• Jeopardy Genetics Game

  • Genetics Jeopardy Answers

• Go to Edulastic.com to take pre/post/retake quizzes; use pre test to study for post test. Complete "Genetics Webquest" to be eligible for a quiz retake.

  • Test: Genetics

  • Genetics Retake Test Prerequisite (Ticket)

Evolution:

• Lesson 1: Nature of Science: Fact, Laws and Theories

• Lesson 2: Adaptation = Smart Parts, Smart Moves, and a Process

• Lesson 3: Brainstorm a Bird

• Lesson 4: What is "Survival of the Fittest?"

• Lesson 5: Artificial vs. Natural Selection and Bird Beak Buffet

• Lesson 6: Change over Time

• Lesson 7: Mechanisms for Evolution

• Lesson 8: Lines of Evidence for Evolution

• Lesson 9: Voyage to the Galapagos

• Lesson 10: Endemics and Evolution on the Olympic Peninsula

• Jeopardy Evolution

  • Evolution Jeopardy Answers

• Go to Edulastic.com to take pre/post/retake tests; use pre test to study for post test.

  • Test: Evolution

  • Evolution Retake Test Prerequisite (Ticket)

Evolution Lesson format from 2019 and earlier:

• Adaptation *

• Natural Selection *

• Evolution *

HIV Prevention (FLASH Curriculum):

• HIV Video for 8th Grade

  • 8th Grade: Reproductive System and Pregnancy

  • 8th Grade: Birth Control

  • 8th Grade: Condoms

  • 8th Grade: Preventing STDs

• HIV Video for 7th Grade

  • 7th Grade: Sexual Identity and Gender Identity

  • 7th Grade: Rules of Dating

  • 7th Grade: Saying No

• HIV Prevention Extensions *

Disease (not used after 2018-19):

• Disease Research Project *

• Infection *

• Microbes *

• Prevention *

• Treatment *

• Disease Webquest *

• Jeopardy Disease

  • Disease Jeopardy Answers

• Go to Edulastic.com to take pre/post/retake tests; use pre test to study for post test.

  • Test: Disease

* = Includes Science Push Program-approved lesson extensions

Exemplary Past Work Samples:

Micro-Life Unit Journal Prompts 2017-18 - Student Sample of Journal Prompts and Notes 2017-18 Weeks 1-8 - Student Sample of Journal Prompts and Notes 2017-18 Weeks 9-16