Science
Grade: Intensive English
Strand 1: Life Science (L)
Strand 2: Earth Science (E)
Strand 3: Chemistry (C)
Strand 4: Physics (P)
Benchmark Code- Subject.Grade.Strand letter.Standard#.Benchmark#
Example: 8.L.3.13 – Grade 8, Strand Life Science, Standard 3, Benchmark 13
Strand 1: Life Science
Standard 1: The student uses classification systems to describe groups of living things, compare and contrast
differences in the life cycles of living things; investigate and explain how living things obtain and use energy;
and analyze how parts of living things are adapted to carry out specific functions.
Benchmark Code
Benchmark
Compare
and
classify
organisms
into
major
groups on the basis of their structure.
S.IE.L.1.1.1
Describe the basic characteristics of living things and classify them into kingdoms.
S.IE.L.1.1.2
Identify the parts of a flowering plant.
S.IE.L.1.1.3
Use content related vocabulary to describe the life cycle of a flowering plant.
S.IE.L.1.1.4
Describe the process of photosynthesis and the evidence that plants make and store food.
S.IE.L.1.1.5
(focus on use of content specific vocabulary)
Classify the animal kingdom into its subgroups, and identify the characteristics of each
S.IE.L.1.1.6
group.
Standard 2: The student explains how parts of an ecosystem are related and how they interact; explain how
energy is distributed to living things in an ecosystem; and describe how materials cycle through an ecosystem
and get reused in the environment.
Benchmark Code
Benchmark
S.IE.L.1.2.1 Define Ecology.
S.IE.L.1.2.2 Identify components of an ecosystem.
S.IE.L.1.2.3
Explain the interaction and interdependence of nonliving and living components within
ecosystems.
S.IE.L.1.2.4 Observe and describe how organisms including producers, consumers, and decomposers
live together in an environment and use existing resources.
S.IE.L.1.2.5 Describe how all organisms in an ecosystem acquire energy directly or indirectly from
sunlight.
S.IE.L.1.2.6 Recognize that every organism occupies a niche.
S.IE.L.1.2.7 Predict the effects of changes in one population in a food web on other populations.
S.IE.L.1.2.8 Trace and interpret the flow of energy through an ecosystem and demonstrating a
knowledge of the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in the ecosystem.
S.IE.L.1.2.9 Demonstrate knowledge of the natural cycles, such as the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle,
water cycle, and oxygen cycle.
S.IE.L.1.2.10 Describe how different environments support different varieties of organisms
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S.IE.L.1.2.11 Demonstrate knowledge that an ecosystem includes living and nonliving factors and that
humans are an integral part of ecosystems.
S.IE.L.1.2.12 Define the concept of pollutant and describing the effects of various pollutants on
ecosystems.
S.IE.L.1.2.13 Understand that human actions can create risks and consequences in the environment.
S.IE.L.1.2.14 Investigate and analyzing how technology affects the physical, chemical, and biological
factors in an ecosystem;
Strand 2: Earth Sciences
Standard 1: The student knows and uses content specific vocabulary to express understanding of our solar
system.
Benchmark
Benchmark Code
Identify characteristics of objects in our solar system including the Sun, planets,
S.IE.E.2.1.1
meteorites, comets, asteroids, and moons.
Comparing and contrasting the celestial bodies in our solar system.
S.IE.E.2.1.2
Identify and illustrate how the tilt of the Earth on its axis as it rotates and revolves
S.IE.E.2.1.3
around the Sun causes changes in seasons and the length of a day.
Relate the Earth’s movement and the moon’s orbit to the observed cyclical phases of the
S.IE.E.2.1.4
moon.
Creates a model of the Earth-moon-sun system to explain day and night, a year,
S.IE.E.2.1.5
eclipses, moon phases, and tides.
Understand the force of gravity and the ways gravity governs motion in the solar system
S.IE.E.2.1.6
and objects on Earth.
Standard 2: The student knows that obtaining, transforming, and distributing energy affects the environment
Benchmark
Benchmark Code
Identify energy transformations occurring during the production of energy for human
S.IE.E.2.2.1
use such as electrical energy to heat energy or heat energy to electrical energy.
S.IE.E.2.2.2
Compare methods used for transforming energy in devices such as hydroelectric and
wind power plants.
S.IE.E.2.2.3
Research and describe energy types from their source to their use and determine if the
type is renewable, non- renewable, or inexhaustible.
Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources and understanding that
S.IE.E.2.2.4
nonrenewable natural resources are not replenished through the natural cycles and thus
are strictly limited in quantity.
Compare the uses of different energy resources and their effects upon the environment,
S.IE.E.2.2.5
and identify their advantages and disadvantages.
Evaluate the biodegradability of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
S.IE.E.2.2.6
Strand 3: Chemistry
Standard 1: The student knows that substances have physical and chemical properties.
Benchmark Code
Benchmark
Demonstrate
that
new
substances
can
be made when two or more substances are
S.IE.C.3.1.1
chemically combined and compare the properties of the new substances to the
original substances.
Classify substances by their physical and chemical properties.
S.IE.C.3.1.2
2
S.IE.C.3.1.3
S.IE.C.31.4
Identify and demonstrate everyday examples of chemical phenomena such as
rusting and tarnishing of metals and burning of wood.
Describe physical properties of elements and identify how they are used to
position an element on the periodic table.
Recognize that compounds are composed of elements.
Locate elements along the periodic table.
S.IE.C.31.5
S.IE.C.31.6
S.IE.C.31.7
Identify properties of the most common elements.
Strand 4: Physics
Standard 1: The student knows the properties of matter.
Benchmark Code
Benchmark
Define matter and energy.
S.IE.P.4.1.1
Investigate, measure, and communicate the properties of different substances
S.IE.P.4.1.2
which are independent of the amount of the substance
Understand that all matter is made up of particles called atoms and that atoms of
S.IE.P.4.1.3
different elements are different.
Understand that atoms and molecules are perpetually in motion.
S.IE.P.4.1.4
Describe the relationships among temperature, molecular motion, phase changes,
S.IE.P.4.1.5
and physical properties of matter.
Model and describe the chemical and physical characteristics of matter (e.g.,
S.IE.P.4.1.6
atoms, molecules, elements, compounds, mixtures).
Standard 2: The student measures and describes the things around us; explains what the world around us
is made of; and identifies and describes forms of energy.
Benchmark Code
Benchmark
Measure
physical
properties
of
objects
or substances (mass, weight, area,
S.IE.P.4.2.1
temperature, dimensions, volume).
Classify substances as elements, compounds, or mixtures.
S.IE.P.4.2.2
Describe matter as consisting of extremely small particles (atoms) which bond
S.IE.P.4.2.3
together to form molecules.
Describe energy and the many common forms it takes (mechanical, heat, light,
S.IE.P.4.2.4
sound, electrical, magnetic, chemical, nuclear).
Describe how common forms of energy can be converted, one to another.
S.IE.P.4.2.5
Standard 3: The student investigates, describes and analyzes ways in which matter changes; describes how
living things and human technology change matter and transform energy; explain how visible changes in
matter are related to atoms and molecules; and how changes in matter are related to changes in energy.
Benchmark Code
Benchmark
Describe the arrangement and motion of molecules in solids, liquids, and gases.
S.IE.P.4.3.1
Use descriptive terms to describe common physical changes in materials:
S.IE.P.4.3.2
evaporation, condensation, thermal expansion, and contraction.
S.IE.P.4.3.3
Identify and compare the characteristics of different types of energy
S.IE.P.4.3.4
Understand the different kinds of energy transformations and the fact that
energy can be neither destroyed nor created
S.IE.P.4.3.5
Observe and describe the interactions of light and matter (reflection, refraction,
absorption, transmission, scattering)
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