2014-2015 Curriculum Blueprint
Course: Science
Topic/Idea: Unit 7 – Big Idea 16
Heredity and Reproduction
Learning Goal(s)
Students will understand that life cycles vary among organisms, but reproduction is a major stage in the
life cycle of all organisms and that offspring of plants and animals are similar to, but not exactly like, their
parents or each other.
Essential Question(s)
What role do reproduction and heredity play in the survival of plants and animals?
How do plants reproduce?
Grade: Fourth
Flexible Time:
15-20 days
4thst Quarter
Unit Overview
In this unit, students learn the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals including those that undergo
incomplete and complete metamorphosis and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants. They will examine
processes of sexual reproduction in flowering plants and determine if plant and animal characteristics are inherited or
influenced by the environment. Students will learn the difference between acquired and innate behavior in animals.
Focus Benchmarks/Focus Instruction
Vertical Progression:
Bullets are the benchmark clarifications. These should be used to develop concise learning statements/daily 3rd Grade: Big Idea 16 is not addressed.
objectives/scales. The content limits are included in this section to help with alignment to standards based 5th Grade: Big Idea 16 is not addressed.
instruction. The Nature of Science Standards (N) are taught throughout the science course. Bold = Annually Assessed
Textbook Support
Academic Language
SC.4.L.16.4: (DOK 2) Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, Be selective in choosing content from the textbook resource
such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering
that meets the full intent of the focus benchmark(s).
Reproduction
Pollinate
Pollen
seed-bearing plants.
Fertilization
Germination
Heredity

identify, compare, and/or contrast the major life cycles of Florida plants and/or animals

Pearson FL Interactive Science Chapter 7, Lesson
Life cycle
Metamorphosis
Seed-bearing
FCAT 2.0 Content Limits
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Carpel
Ovules
Anther

Items will only assess the life cycles of plants and animals commonly found in Florida. Items

Pearson FL Interactive Science Chapter 7, pg 270
Flower
Seed dispersal
Inherit
assessing the life cycles of insects are limited to egg, larva, pupa, and adult (complete
“How can flower parts be classified?”
Predation
Climate
metamorphosis) or egg, nymph, and adult (incomplete metamorphosis). Items assessing the
life cycles of flowering and nonflowering plants are limited to seed, seedling, and other stages
of plant development. Items assessing the life cycles of animals are limited to egg, embryo,

Wonders FL Reading/Writing Workshop pgs. 132Higher Order Questions/Stems
infant, adolescent, and adult stages. Items will not assess the major stages of the human life
145: “Animal Adaptations”
1. What are the processes of reproduction in flowering
cycle.
plants?
o
Plants and animals in scenarios and art must be common to Florida.
Supporting & Additional Resources:
2. How are animal behaviors shaped by inherited traits

Link to Webb’s DOK Guide
and learning?
SC.4.L.16.1: (DOK 2) Identify processes of sexual reproduction in flowering plants, including pollination,

Link to Scale
3. How are inherited characteristics in plants and
fertilization (seed production), seed dispersal, and germination.

Garden in a Glove 5E Lesson
animals different from characteristics affected by the

examine and identify the reproductive parts of a flower (including the carpel, which produces

A Skateboard Riding Dog
environment?
ovules, and the anther, which produces pollen)

Plant Parts and Life Cycles Activity
4. In what ways are the life cycle of Florida plants

describe the functions of the reproductive parts of a flower
similar and different?

Garden in a Glove 5E Lesson

identify how the processes of pollination, fertilization, seed dispersal, and germination and the

Plants in Motion Web Resources 5E Lesson
methods of seed dispersal fit into the life cycle of a flowering plant
Writing Connections

Flowers Pick Them Apart 5E Lesson

describe the plant reproductive structures and how they contribute to pollination and

Have I Morphed Yet 5E Lesson
fertilization
1. My Science Journal

Life Cycles of Florida Life 5E Lesson

describe the plant structure that contributes to seed dispersal and germination
2. After reading the “Animal Adaptations” write a

Life Cycles of Florida Life PowerPoint
FCAT 2.0 Content Limits
constructed response in which you explain the

Items will not asses modes of reproduction in nonflowering plants such as mosses or ferns or in

Life Cycles of Florida Life Formative Assessment
factors in the environment that affect some
any other organism kingdom; or flowers that have only male parts or female parts.
characteristics of organisms. Support your response
o
Scenarios presented should include the parts of a flower, structures, and functions
with evidence from the text.
for reproductive success.
3. Create a Flow Map or a sequencing organizer that
SC.4.L.16.2: (DOK 3) Explain that although characteristics of plants and animals are inherited, some
traces the life cycle of Florida life using general
characteristics can be affected by the environment.
academic and domain-specific words and phrases.

explain that factors in the environment such as predation, climate, disease, light, temperature,
4. Write a brief autobiography about yourself
and availability of food can affect some characteristics of organism
highlighting the traits that you inherited from your
FCAT 2.0 Content Limits
parents.

Items will not assess types of genetic variation.
o
Scenarios should focus on plant and animal species common in Florida.
2014-2015 Curriculum Blueprint
Course: Science
Topic/Idea: Unit 7 – Big Idea 16
Heredity and Reproduction
SC.4.L.16.3: (DOK 3) Recognize that animal behaviors may be shaped by heredity and learning.

identify examples of animal behaviors

differentiate between learned/acquired behaviors and inherited/innate behaviors and identify
examples as either learned or inherited behavior, such as courtship, grooming, verbal
communication, fighting, etc

draw conclusions that many animal behaviors are a combination of both heredity and learning
FCAT 2.0 Content Limits

Items will not assess the molecule of DNA.
o
Scenarios presented should be age appropriate, such as bird and dog behaviors.
Grade: Fourth
Flexible Time:
15-20 days
4thst Quarter