LIFE: From diversity to DNA

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 7

• Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
  • Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
  • Objective 1.02: Develop appropriate experimental procedures for:
    • Given questions.
    • Student generated questions.
  • Objective 1.03: Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and in field studies.
    • Recognize potential hazards.
    • Safely manipulate materials and equipment.
    • Conduct appropriate procedures.
  • Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
    • Explain observations.
    • Make inferences and predictions.
    • Develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
  • Objective 1.06: Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:
    • Measurement.
    • Analysis of data.
    • Graphing.
    • Prediction models.
  • Objective 1.08: Use oral and written language to:
    • Communicate findings.
    • Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
• Goal 4: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the complementary nature of the human body system.
  • Objective 4.01: Analyze how human body systems interact to provide for the needs of the human organism:
    • Musculoskeletal.
    • Cardiovascular.
    • Endocrine and Nervous.
    • Digestive and Circulatory.
    • Excretory.
    • Reproductive.
    • Respiratory.
    • Immune.
    • Nervous system.
  • Objective 4.02: Describe how systems within the human body are defined by the functions it performs.
  • Objective 4.03: Explain how the structure of an organ is adapted to perform specific functions within one or more systems.
    • Liver.
    • Heart.
    • Lung. Brain.
    • Stomach.
    • Kidney.
  • Objective 4.04: Evaluate how systems in the human body help regulate the internal environment.
  • Objective 4.06: Describe growth and development of the human organism.
• Goal 5: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of heredity and genetics.
  • Objective 5.01: Explain the significance of genes to inherited characteristics:
    • Genes are the units of information.
    • Parents transmit genes to their offspring.
    • Some medical conditions and diseases are genetic.
  • Objective 5.02: Explain the significance of reproduction:
    • Sorting and recombination of parents' genetic material.
    • Potential variation among offspring.
  • Objective 5.03: Identify examples and patterns of human genetic traits:
    • Dominant and recessive.
    • Incomplete dominance.
  • Objective 5.04: Analyze the role of probability in the study of heredity:
    • Role of each parent in transfer of genetic traits.
    • Analysis of pedigrees.
  • Objective 5.06: Evaluate evidence that human characteristics are a product of:
    • Inheritance.
    • Environmental factors.
    • Lifestyle choices.

Grade 8

• Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
  • Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
  • Objective 1.02: Develop appropriate experimental procedures for:
    • Given questions.
    • Student generated questions.
  • Objective 1.03: Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and in field studies:
    • Recognize potential hazards.
    • Safely manipulate materials and equipment.
    • Conduct appropriate procedures.
  • Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
    • explain observations.
    • make inferences and predictions.
    • develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
  • Objective 1.08: Use oral and written language to:
    • Communicate findings.
    • Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
    • Describe strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, and/or data.
• Goal 6: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of cell theory.
  • Objective 6.01: Describe cell theory:
    • All living things are composed of cells.
    • Cells provide structure and carry on major functions to sustain life.
    • Some organisms are single cell; other organisms, including humans, are multi-cellular.
    • Cell function is similar in all living things.
  • Objective 6.02: Analyze structures, functions, and processes within animal cells for:
    • Capture and release of energy.
    • Feedback information.
    • Dispose of wastes.
    • Reproduction.
    • Movement.
    • Specialized needs.
  • Objective 6.04: Conclude that animal cells carry on complex chemical processes to balance the needs of the organism.
    • Cells grow and divide to produce more cells.
    • Cells take in nutrients to make the energy for the work cells do.
    • Cells take in materials that a cell or an organism needs.
• Goal 7: The learner will conduct investigations, use models, simulations, and appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of microbiology.
  • Objective 7.01: Compare and contrast microbes:
    • Size, shape, structure.
    • Whether they are living cells.
  • Objective 7.02: Describe diseases caused by microscopic biological hazards including:
    • Viruses.
    • Bacteria.
    • Parasites.
    • Contagions.
    • Mutagens.
  • Objective 7.03: Analyze data to determine trends or patterns to determine how an infectious disease may spread including:
    • Carriers.
    • Vectors.
    • Conditions conducive to disease.
    • Calculate reproductive potential of bacteria.
  • Objective 7.04: Evaluate the human attempt to reduce the risk of and treatments for microbial infections including:
    • Solutions with anti-microbial properties.
    • Antibiotic treatment.
    • Research.