Animals Lesson 2: Learning Goals

Target Performances

Lesson 2 – Foundations: Zooming into Organisms (students developing foundational knowledge and practice)

Activity 2.1: Zooming into Plants, Animals, and Decomposers

Students “zoom in” to animals, plants, and decomposers, describing how all of these organisms are made of cells with special structures and functions.

Activity 2.2: Molecules Cells Are Made of

Students use food labels to describe molecules in animal, plant, and decomposer cells: large organic molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), as well as water, vitamins, and minerals.

Activity 2.3: Molecules in Cells Quiz

Students complete a quiz to assess their understanding of the molecules in cells and how to identify which molecules store chemical energy.

Activity 2.4: Questions about Animals

Students describe structures and functions that all animals share and pose questions about mealworms to prepare for their upcoming investigation.

NGSS Performance Expectations

Middle School

  • Matter and its Interactions. MS-PS1-1. Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.

High School

  • From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes. HS-LS1-6. Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.