Target Performances
Activity |
Target Performance |
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 Plants |
Students observe their growing radish plants and pose questions about plants to prepare for their upcoming investigation. |
NGSS Performance Expectations
Middle school
- MS. Matter and its Interactions. MS-PS1-1. Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
High school
- HS. 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.