CH 5. 1

The student acquires the skills necessary to engage in scientific inquiry, analysis, deductive and inductive reasoning, information gathering, and problem solving, as essential and integral elements in the study of science.

CH 5. 2

The student researches and develops an understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology, and how major discoveries and events have advanced science  technology.

CH 5. 3

The student demonstrates an ability to use all necessary scientific and mathematical models and tools related to the study of Science, and uses technology to apply knowledge of scientific principles.

CH 5. 4

The student demonstrates an ability to undertake a variety of types of scientific investigation (experiments, information gathering, research, data collection, design, field work), and to communicate results with a depth of understanding.

CH 5. 12

The student identifies systems of interacting components and demonstrates understanding of how their interactions combine to produce the overall behavior of the system.

CH 5. 13

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the structure, function, behavior, and diversity of living things.

CH 5. 14

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the natural principles that govern the continuity of life.

CH 5. 15

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the flow of energy in living systems.

CH 5. 16

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the origin and evolution of life on Earth.

CH 5. 17

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the environment as a system of interdependent components affected by human activity and natural phenomena.

Standard   CH 5. 1

 Life Science

The student acquires the skills necessary to engage in scientific inquiry, analysis, deductive and inductive reasoning, information gathering, and problem solving as essential and integral elements in the study of science.

(NCEE S 5; CK S 14, 15; NJ 5.2; NRC A 1,2)

Benchmarks

1.                  Identifies and communicates concepts that guide scientific investigations

2.                  Designs and conducts scientific investigations

3.                  Regularly uses technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications; completes a minimum of one full investigation

4.                  Formulates and revises scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence

5.                  Recognizes, analyzes and communicates alternative explanations and models

6.                  Communicates and defends a scientific argument

7.                  Demonstrates an understanding that scientific explanations must adhere to criteria such as: logical consistency, openness to modifications, data based

8.                  Understands and explains how experimental results lead to further investigation

9.                Uses technology and other media to present the design and results of investigation

CH   5. 2

Life Science

The student researches and develops an understanding of how people of various cultures have contributed to the advancement of science and technology, and how major discoveries and events have advanced science and technology.

(NJ 5.3; CK S 16; NRC G 1,2,3)

Benchmarks

10.              Uses information effectively to recognize and explain the role of the scientific community in responding to changing social and political conditions

11.              Examines and communicates knowledge of the lives and contributions of important scientists and engineers who effected major breakthroughs in our understanding of the natural world

12.              Demonstrates an understanding that scientists are influenced by societal, cultural, and personal beliefs and ways of viewing the world

13.              Demonstrates how science is not separate from society, but a part of it

14.              Demonstrates an understanding that scientists have ethical traditions

CH   5. 3

 Life Science

The student demonstrates an ability to use all necessary scientific and mathematical models and tools related to the study of science, and will use technology to apply knowledge of scientific principles.

(NCEE S6; NJ 5.4, 5.5; NRC E 1)

Benchmarks

15.              Demonstrates competency in using a variety of scientific tools as a means of conducting experiments, gathering data, analyzing results, and solving problems

16.              Uses computers and other technological instruments to access scientific knowledge, compare data, cite present and past examples of the interrelationship and mutual influence of science, technology and society

17.              Uses scientific tools, print and nonprint resources, and technology to participate in a design project that identifies a problem, proposes and implements a solution, and evaluates the consequences of that solution

CH    5. 4

 Life Science

The student demonstrates an ability to undertake a variety of types of scientific investigation (experiments, research, data collection, design, field work), and to communicate results with a depth of understanding.

Note: This standard is an integration of several goals/objectives alluded to in previous standards.

(NCEE S 7, S8; CK S 15; NJ 5.2, 5.4, 5.5; NRC A 1,2)

Benchmarks

18.              Demonstrates in a variety of ways how the results of scientific investigation are applicable to real life situations

19.              Demonstrates that arguments generated from the results of scientific investigation may not have equal merit

20.              Explains how experimental results lead to further investigation

21.              Uses scientific investigation to distinguish between fact and opinion

22.              Uses scientific investigation to create explanations, models, decisions and descriptions

CH 5.  12

Life Science

The student identifies systems of interacting components and demonstrates understanding of how their interactions combine to produce the overall behavior of the system.

(NCEE S 2; NRC C 4,5)

Benchmarks

23.             Explains how behavior of a system may be different from the behavior of its components

24.              Explains how feedback can be used to control the behavior of a system

CH 5.  13

Life Science

The student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of the structure, function, behavior, and diversity of living things.

(NCEE S2; CK S 5, 6, 7; NJ 5.6, 5.7; NRC C 1, 2, 5)

Benchmarks

25.              Identifies and describes characteristics of living things.

26.              Demonstrates the structural and functional organization of a cell, tissue, organ, system, organism

27.              Identifies and explains the structure and function of molecules that control cellular activities

28.              Describes how relatedness is the basis for classifying living things

29.              Explains the sequence of events that results in the behavior of a living thing

CH 5. 14

Life Science

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the natural principles that govern the continuity of life.

(NCEE S2; CK S 5; NJ 5.6; NRC C 2,3,6)

Benchmarks

30.              Describes how information is encoded in genetic material

31.              Demonstrates how cells and organisms reproduce

CH  5. 15

Life Science

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the flow of energy in living systems.

(NCEE S 2; CK S 8; NJ 5.9; NRC C5) 

Benchmarks

32.              Explains the processes by which living things obtain and use energy necessary for life

33.              Explains the transfer of energy among organisms

CH 5.  16

Life Science

The student produces evidence that demonstrates an understanding of the origin and evolution of life on Earth.

(NCEE S 2; CK S 9; NJ 5.11; NRC C 3)

Benchmarks

34.              Explains how DNA can be altered by natural or artificial means to produce permanent changes in a species

35.              Explains that through evolution the Earth’s present species developed from earlier distinctly different species

36.              Explains how the theory of natural selection accounts for an increase in the proportion of individuals with advantageous characteristics within a species