High School Biology

Life

From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Structure and Function

Growth and Development of Organisms

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

Variation of Traits

Adaptation

Target Level: Explain how different organs of the body carry out essential functions of life.

Precursor Level: Indicate the function of major organs of the body.  

Initial Level: Identify major organs of the body.  

Target Level: Use a model to illustrate the organization and interaction of major organs into systems (e.g., circulatory, respiratory, digestive, sensory) in the body to provide specific functions. 

Precursor Level: Identify which organs work for a specific function.  

Initial Level: Recognize that different organs have different functions.  

Target Level: Collect data from an investigation to show how different organisms react to changes (e.g., heart rate increases with exercise, pupils react to light).

Precursor Level: Compare before and after data on changes that occur to an organism.  

Initial Level: Identify changes in the data display (e.g. objects, pictures, graphs, charts, etc.).

Target Level: Use a model to illustrate how growth occurs when cells multiply.  

Precursor Level: Use a model to relate the number of cells to the size of a body. 

Initial Level: Recognize that organisms are composed of cells.  

Target Level: Use a graphical representation to explain changes over time in the population size of an animal species (e.g., currently on the endangered list).

Precursor Level: Use a graphical representation to show changes in population size.  

Initial Level: Recognize that there was a change in the population size.  

Target Level: Use a graphical representation to explain the dependence of an animal population on other organisms for food and their environment for shelter.

Precursor Level: Recognize the relationship between population size and available resources for food and shelter from a graphical representation. 

Initial Level: Identify food and shelter needs for familiar wildlife. 

Target Level: Defend why reproduction may or may not result in offspring with different traits. 

Precursor Level: Make a claim supported by evidence that parents and offspring may have different traits.  

Initial Level: Compare traits of parents and offspring.

Target Level: Explain how the traits of particular species allow them to survive in their specific environments. 

Precursor Level: Identify factors in an environment that require special traits to survive. 

Initial Level: Match particular species to their various environments.

Target Level: Interpret data sets to identify an advantageous heritable trait.

Precursor Level: Using data sets, identify organisms that would survive better in certain environment. 

Initial Level: Recognize that some organisms survive better in certain environments. 

Target Level: Evaluate a strategy to protect a species.

Precursor Level: Using a mathematical model, determine which human actions help or harm a species. 

Initial Level: Identify a human activity that has an effect on a species.