7th Grade (SCI) Life Science Standards [LS2] Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
SCI-MS.LS2.03 Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy
among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on describing the conservation of matter and flow of energy into and out of various
ecosystems, and on defining the boundaries of the system. Disciplinary Core Ideas LS2.B: Cycle of Matter and Energy Transfer in
Ecosystems
Food webs are models that demonstrate how
matter and energy is transferred between
producers, consumers, and decomposers as the
three groups interact within an ecosystem.
Transfers of matter into and out of the physical
environment occur at every level. Decomposers
recycle nutrients from dead plant or animal
matter back to the soil in terrestrial
environments or to the water in aquatic
environments. The atoms that make up the
organisms in an ecosystem are cycled repeatedly
between the living and nonliving parts of the
ecosystem.
Student Learning Targets:
Knowledge Targets
I can recognize or recall specific terminology (carrying capacity, limiting factors, food chain, food web, energy pyramid, abiotic and biotic factors, trophic levels (decomposer, producer, and consumer).
I can identify a food chain or food web.
I can identify the producer, consumer, and decomposer.
Reasoning Targets
I can explain the importance of producers to an ecosystem.
Skills (Performance) Targets
I can trace the flow of energy through a system.
Skills (Performance) Targets
I can
Product Targets
I can construct a food chain and/or a food web.
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.
identifiy a food chain or food web.
identify the producer, consumer, and decomposer.
Vocabulary: carrying capacity, limiting factors, food chain, food web, energy pyramid, abiotic and biotic factors, trophic levels (decomposer, producer, and consumer)
3 Proficient
“The Standard.” ... demonstrate no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.
explain the importance of producers to an ecosystem
trace the flow of energy through a system.
explain how matter and energy are conserved
identify the cycling of matter between living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Sample Activity: constructs a food web for a specific ecosystem interprets an energy pyramid and relates the population size to the available producers
4 Advanced
... demonstrate in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations.
descriptors
Resources
Vocabulary
carrying capacity
limiting factors
food chain
food web
energy pyramid
abiotic and biotic factors
trophic levels (decomposer, producer, and consumer)
