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Learning Interchange
Units of Practice

Diversity of Organisms

Unit Details


Subject: Science
Learning Levels: Intermediate, Middle School
Author(s): Chris Schaben, Mitzi Petersen, Aurietha Hoesing, Steve Waterman
Submitted by:

Abstract

In this unit students will discover the many ways in which organisms on Earth are classified. Students will understand the importance of scientists using a system of classification for organisms and how that understanding leads to a further study of how animals adapt to their environment. The lessons will focus on becoming proficient in classifying and examining classifications within kingdoms.

Invitation/Fundamental Understandings:
Essential Questions:
Knowledge and skills:

Fundamental Understandings
There is a wide variety of organisms living on the Earth today which are
grouped by common characteristics.

Essential Questions
1. How are some organisms different from others?
2. Why is it important to clasify?
3. How does clasification help us study organisms?
4. What are the characteristics of an animal?

Knowledge:
* relations of structure and function to where an organism lives.
* types of organisms in each group
* characteristics of the main kingdoms
* similarities and differences of organisms

Skills:
* classify organisms
* infer relationships and patterns
* compare the different types of classification systems
* collect and interpret data

Standards

National Standards

National Science Standards:
Life Science - CONTENT STANDARD C:

DIVERSITY AND ADAPTATIONS OF ORGANISMS
Millions of species of animals, plants, and microorganisms are alive today.
Although different species might look dissimilar, the unity among organisms
becomes apparent from an analysis of internal structures, the similarity of
their chemical processes, and the evidence of common ancestry.

Content Standard K-12
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES STANDARD:
As a result of activities in grades K-12, all students should develop
understanding and abilities aligned with the following concepts and processes:
* Systems, order, and organization

State Standards

Nebraska State Standard 8.4.5 By the end of eighth grade, students will develop an understanding of diversity and adaptations of organisms

Workforce Competencies:

Standard Title: INFORMATION MANAGERS (3.1) Students locate, comprehend, interpret, evaluate, maintain, and apply information, concepts, and ideas found in literature, the arts, symbols, recordings, video and other graphic displays, and computer files in order to perform tasks and/or for enjoyment.


Unit of Practice

Relevance:

There are many different organisms on Earth and scientists continue to discover new species. Scientists classify to help them study the organisms.

Context

Before beginning this unit, students need to have an understanding of how things can be identified by properties such as color, shape, texture, etc. During the unit students will learn how to classify organisms into kingdoms, then species within the kingdoms. This provides the foundation for future study of how organsims adapt to certain environments and change within those environments.

Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1. KWHL chart
2. Create a dichotomous key for classifying organisms
3. Create a flip book on the kingdoms including examples and characteristics of various organisms within a kingdom.
4. Create a data chart in a spreadsheet format representing an example of an organsim and how the organism is classified.
5. Design a Venn diagram that compares an organism in the animal kingdom to a human.

Summative Assessment:

1. Students will create a newspaper showing diversity of organisms with a
claris template.
*Pairs of students make two pages with four sections (For example,
editorial, headlines, byline, comics, advertisements, classified, etc.)

Components:

Lesson 1: In this lesson students will be discovering how to group objects based on the commom characteristics of the objects. Students will discuss findings and how this concept applies to the scientific world of classification.
Lesson 2: In this lesson students will be applying their knowledge of classifying to kingdoms, and showing how organisms may be classified in a kingdom.
Lesson 3: In this lesson students be will exploring how species are classified within kingdoms, then creating a key to follow that will allow them to group a species by their characteristics.


Additional Resources

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