7th Grade (SCI) Life Science Standards [LS2] Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
SCI-MS.LS2.02 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among
organisms across multiple ecosystems.
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on predicting consistent patterns of interactions in different ecosystems in terms of the
relationships among and between organisms and abiotic components of ecosystems. Examples of types of
interactions could include competitive, predatory, and mutually beneficial. Disciplinary Core Ideas LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in
Ecosystems
Similarly, predatory interactions may reduce
the number of organisms or eliminate whole
populations of organisms. Mutually beneficial
interactions, in contrast, may become so
interdependent that each organism requires
the other for survival. Although the species
involved in these competitive, predatory, and
mutually beneficial interactions vary across
ecosystems, the patterns of interactions of
organisms with their environments, both living
and nonliving, are shared.
Student Learning Targets:
Knowledge Targets
I can recognize or recall specific terminology (predator/prey, producer/consumer, symbiotic relationships, biotic and abiotic factors, habitat and niche, competition, levels of organization in the ecosystem: species, population, community, ecosystem).
I can identify symbiotic relationships.
Reasoning Targets
I can predict what would happen to an ecosystem with changing ratios of producers, consumers, or decomposers.
I can compare and contrast habitat and niche.
I can differentiate symbiotic relationships.
Skills (Performance) Targets
I can
Product Targets
I can
Proficiency Scale
The Student can ...
1 Beginning
... with help, demonstrate a partial understanding of some of the simpler details and processes (Score 2.0 content) and some of the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).
descriptors
2 Developing
... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content).
recognize or recall specific terminology.
identify symbiotic relationships
Vocabulary: predator/prey, producer/consumer, symbiotic relationships, biotic and abiotic factors, habitat and niche, competition, levels of organization in the ecosystem: species, population, community, ecosystem.
3 Proficient
“The Standard.” ... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
predict what would happen to an ecosystem with changing ratios of producers, consumers, or decomposers.
compare and contrast habitat and niche.
differentiate symbiotic relationships
relate competition in across and within ecosystems to resource availability.
explain predator/prey interactions
Sample Activity: Good buddies symbiosis game Ecosystem interactions research project Predator/Prey online simulations and labs Analyzing predator/prey population graphs Relates resource available to the type of organisms found in an ecosystem and recognizes the adaptations of those organisms to the environment.
4 Advanced
... demonstrate in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations.
