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Biology – Big Idea – (Understand)

The theory of evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things
i.
How do ecosystems and Earth systems change over time?
ii.
How do these changes affect biodiversity?
Term 1 – Approx. 17 classes
Curricular Competencies (Do)
In science, the curricular competencies introduced in K are expanded in a developmental continuum focused on the doing of science, including:
Questioning and Predicting
Planning and Conducting
Processing and Analyzing Data and
Information
Evaluating
Applying and Innovation
Communication
Content (Know)
Key Ideas: natural selection (the natural process by which certain traits that have a greater fitness for their environment lead to a reproductive advantage; this process happens within a population over time because of genetic variation) through adaptive
radiation (over time, groups of organisms from an original population will change as a result of adapting to their environment and will develop into different species) - a proposed mechanism of the theory of evolution
How have species on Earth evolved due
to natural selection?
What would promote an animal/plant
to want to change?
Can I find reliable evidence that changes
have occurred in the past?
How can I use the evidence I found to
support or deny the idea of natural
selection?
How is the idea of natural selection
useful to me?
I can accurately describe the process of
natural selection, provide examples that
support my opinion of natural selection
and provide details of how the process
of natural selection would be relevant
to me.
What is "fitness"?
Is there evidence that "fitness" is
important?
What would give a plant/animal better
"odds" of having a viable offspring?
Using a selected species, I can provide
evidence that "fitness" can influence
natural selection.
How can I use my knowledge of
"fitness" and natural selection to
influence the world around me?
I can describe what "fitness" is and how
it relates to the idea of natural
selection.
What is adaptive radiation?
Can I find evidence that animals/plants
change over time?
What does the evidence predict?
Why would a plant/animal want to
change its appearance/behavior or
physical structure?
How will changes in organisms affect its
overall functioning?
I can describe what adaptive radiation is
and provide details of how adaptive
radiation will influence "fitness" and the
process of natural selection.
Why do we see specific organisms in
only specific environments?
All organisms need space, food, water,
and access to resources in order to
survive
How do survival needs influence fitness,
adaptive radiation and natural
selection?
I can explain how survival needs are
linked to an organism's environment.
How are humans impacting habitat
fragmentation?
How does habitat fragmentation effect
an organism's success?
How do we control habitat
fragmentation moving forward?
I can explain what habitat
fragmentation is, how it impacts our
environments and predict its effect in
the future.
What type of changes occurs?
Activities: Natural Selection Lab, Finch Activity
Content (Know)
Key Idea: survival needs and interactions between organisms and the environment. ,
What do organisms need to survive?
Can I predict what would happening if a
survival needs was not met?
Do environments always provide all the
survival needs?
What is habitat fragmentation?
What types of things would
increase/decrease habitat
fragmentation?
Activities: Create an Organism/Environment Box Activity, Effects of Urbanization
What evidence can I use to
demonstrate habitat fragmentation?