Gr a de 8 Li fe Sc ie nce Roa d Ma p
The 8th Grade Life Science course provides a framework from which students will engage in the processes of
scientific inquiry while examining biological concepts aligned to the Keystone Biology Assessment Eligible
Content, The Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science, and the Next Generation Science
Standards.
The Life Science Course is aligned to the following Keystone Biology and 8th Grade PSSA Eligible Content:
Know that both direct and indirect observations are used by scientists to study the natural world and universe.
Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations.
Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence.
Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models.
Describe the levels of ecological organization
Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem (e.g., food chains, food webs, energy pyramids
Describe biotic interactions in an ecosystem (e.g. competition, predation, symbiosis).
Describe how matter recycles through an ecosystem (i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, and nitrogen
cycle).
Describe how ecosystems change in response to natural and human disturbances (e.g., climate changes,
introduction of nonnative species, pollution, fires).
Describe the effects of limiting factors on population dynamics and potential species extinction.
Describe the unique properties of water and how these properties support life on Earth (e.g., freezing point, high specific heat,
cohesion).
Compare cellular structures and their functions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Identify and describe how organisms obtain and transform energy for their life processes.
Compare the basic transformation of energy during photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Describe the events that occur during the cell cycle: interphase, nuclear division (i.e., mitosis,) cytokinesis.
Explain how genetic information is inherited. (Mendelian Genetics)
These statements form a core base from which to address the Pennsylvania academic standards
The Life Science curriculum will provide students with an in-depth study of the following components of
biology: ecological principles including the Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Water Cycle, introduction to
the cell and introduction to genetics. The course will help students to be better prepared for the 9th grade
biology course and the Keystone Biology Exam.
Embedded in the curriculum are performance objectives that, when met, will demonstrate a proficiency of the
state-mandated content and skills. These provide a measure of student proficiency and performance, while
serving as a guide to instruction. The curriculum emphasizes skills and tasks that create scientific literacy,
which includes conducting experiments and selecting the proper instrumentation, expanding on experimental
results to lead to new questions and investigations, and discussing technological achievements that have
advanced scientific knowledge.
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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Science as Inquiry
Science as Inquiry
Big Idea / Key Concepts
At the conclusion of Inquiry Unit Student
will be able to do the following:
Suggested Pacing:
Big Idea:
10 Days
BSCS Biology: A Human Approach
Scientists conduct investigations to
student the natural word, and they
communicate their results with other
scientists.
Engage Chapter
Enduring Understanding
PACING
Key 1:
Student Outcomes
Scientist cooperate and
communication in a variety of
ways.
Enduring Understanding
In biology there is a strong relationship
between structure and function at all
levels of biochemical organization
Know that both direct and indirect
observations are used by scientists to study
the natural world and universe.
Identify questions and concepts that guide
scientific investigations.
Formulate and revise explanations and
models using logic and evidence.
Recognize and analyze alternative
explanations and models.
Overarching Questions:
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
1.
What is the matter in organisms
made of?
2.
Why are the properties of water
important to organisms? (2013)
3.
How do organisms use different
types of carbon compounds?
4.
How do chemicals combine and
break apart inside living things?
5.
What are the basic chemical
principles that affect living things?
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Unit 1: What is Ecology
What is Ecology?
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Suggested Pacing: 10 – 15 Days
Big Ideas:
End
byI N G
PAC
Organisms interact with both abiotic and
biotic factors in their environment.
BSCS Biology A Human Approach
Pearson Biology
3.1 What is Ecology
Student Outcomes
At the conclusion of Unit 1 Student will be
able to do the following:
Describe the levels of ecological organization
(i.e., organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, and biosphere). BIO.B.4.1.1
Enduring Understanding
Ecology is the scientific study of
interactions among organism and
between organisms and their physical
environment
Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic
components of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems. BIO.B.4.1.2
Suggested Performance Assessment
Key 1:
Organisms in the biosphere interact with
each other and with their surroundings or
environment.
Overarching Questions
How do Earth’s living and nonliving parts
interact and affect the survival of
organisms?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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Unit 2: Energy, Producers, and Consumers & Flow of Matter & Energy Through the Biosphere
Flow of Matter & Energy Through the
Biosphere
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Suggested Pacing: 20-25
Big Ideas:
PACING
Energy Flows through an ecosystem in a
one way stream from primary producers
to various consumers. Matter is recycled
and neither created or destroyed.
Pearson Biology
Enduring Understanding
3.2 Energy, Producers, and Consumers
The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
3.3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems
3.4 Cycles of Matter
Key 1:
Primary Producers are the first producers
of energy rich compounds that are later
used by other organisms.
Key 2:
Suggested Performance Assessment
Energy flows in a one way stream.
Key 3:
Matter is recycled within and between
ecosystems.
Key 4:
Water has unique properties that enable it
to help support life on earth
Overarching Question
Student Outcomes
At the conclusion of Unit 2 Student will be
able to do the following:
Describe the levels of ecological organization
(i.e., organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, and biosphere). BIO.B.4.1.1
Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic
components of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems. BIO.B.4.1.2
Describe how energy flows through an
ecosystem (e.g., food chains, food webs,
energy pyramids). BIO.B.4.2.1
Describe biotic interactions in an ecosystem
(e.g., competition, predation, symbiosis).
BIO.B.4.2.2
Describe how matter recycles through an
ecosystem (i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle,
oxygen cycle, and nitrogen cycle). BIO.B.4.2.3
Describe the unique properties of water and
how these properties support life on Earth
(e.g., freezing point, high specific heat,
cohesion).
What are primary producers?
How do consumers obtain energy?
What do the three types of ecological
pyramids illustrate?
How does matter move through the
biosphere?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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Unit 3: Ecosystems and Communities
Ecosystems and Communities
Suggested Pacing: 20-25
PACING
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Big Ideas
At the conclusion of Unit 3 Student will be
able to do the following:
Interdependence in Nature
Enduring Understanding
Pearson Biology
Student Outcomes
Organism have a specific role to play in the
community in which they live.
Describe the levels of ecological organization
(i.e., organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biome, and biosphere). BIO.B.4.1.1
Key 1:
4.1 Climate
Climate can determine the type of
4.2 Niches and Community
Interactions
organisms that live in a particular region.
4.3 Succession Biomes
Interactions between organisms are
complex
4.4 Aquatic Ecosystems
Describe biotic interactions in an ecosystem
(e.g., competition, predation, symbiosis).
BIO.B.4.2.2
Key 2:
Key 3:
Communities change over time
Key4:
Biomes are described in terms of abiotic
factors like climate and weather, and biotic
factors like plant and animal life.
Overarching Questions
What is climate and what factors determine
global climate?
What are the factors that shape
communities?
How do communities change over time?
How are Biomes characterized?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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Unit 4: Populations
Unit 4: Populations
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Student Outcomes
Big Ideas
At the conclusion of Unit 4 Student will be able
to do the following:
Factors such as completion, predation,
parasitism and disease, unusual weather
and natural disasters limit the population
of organisms.
Describe the levels of ecological organization (i.e.,
organism, population, community, ecosystem,
biome, and biosphere). BIO.B.4.1.1
5.1 How Populations Grow
Enduring Understanding
Describe characteristic biotic and abiotic
components of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems. BIO.B.4.1.2
5.2 Limits to Growth
Populations cannot continue to grow
forever.
5.3 Human Population Growth
Key 1:
Suggested Pacing:
PACING
10 – 15 Days
There are limits to population growth/
Describe biotic interactions in an ecosystem (e.g.,
competition, predation, symbiosis). BIO.B.4.2.2
Describe the effects of limiting factors on
population dynamics and potential species
extinction. BIO.B.4.2.5
Overarching Questions
What factors contribute to changes in
populations?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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Unit 5: Humans in the Biosphere
Humans in the Biosphere
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Focus Content & Major Activities
Suggested Pacing:
Big Idea
At the conclusion of Unit 5 Student
will be able to do the following:
PACING
10 – 15 Days
Humans affect regional and global environments
through agriculture, development, and industry
in ways that have an impact on the quality of the
Earth’s natural resources.
6.1 A Changing Landscape
Enduring Understanding
6.2 Using Resources Wisely
Key 1:
6.3 Biodiversity
How to we use resources wisely?
6.4 Meeting Ecological Challenges
Describe how ecosystems change in
response to natural and human
disturbances (e.g., climate changes,
introduction of nonnative species,
pollution, fires). BIO.B.4.2.4
Overarching Questions
What is the relationship between resource use
and sustainable development?
How to we use resources wisely?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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UNIT 6: Introduction to the Cell and Cellular Processes
The Biosphere
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Suggested Pacing:
PACING
20-25 Days?
Big Ideas:
Cellular Basis of Life, Prokaryotic
and Eukaryotic Cells, Cellular
Functions – Photosynthesis and
Respiration.
Enduring Understanding
A cell is the basic unit of life; the
processes that occur at the cellular
level provide the energy and basic
structure organisms need to
survive.
Key 1:
Cells are the basic units of life.
Key 2:
Focus Content & Major Activities
At the conclusion of Unit 6 Student will
be able to do the following:
Describe relationships between structure
and function at biological levels of
organization. BIO. A.1.2
Compare cellular structures and their
functions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells. BIO. A.1.2.1
Describe and interpret relationships
between structure and function at
various levels of biological organization
(organelles, cells, tissues, organ, organ
systems, and multi-cellular organism).
BIO. A.1.2.2
Cells can be divided into two major
groups prokaryotic cells or
eukaryotic cells
Identify and describe the cell structures
involved in processing energy. BIO.A.3.1
Key 3:
Describe the fundamental (basic) roles of
plastids (e.g. chloroplasts) and
mitochondria in energy transformations.
BIO. A.3.1.1
Cell structures are specifically
adapted to their function and the
overall goal of maintaining
homeostasis. In multicellular
organisms, cells may become
specialized to carry out a particular
function
Overarching Questions
How are prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells similar and different?
Identify how organisms obtain and
transform energy for their life processes.
BIO. A.3.2
Compare the basic transformation of
energy during photosynthesis and
cellular respiration. BIO. A.3.2.1
How to cellular processes fuel the
planet?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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UNIT 7: Introduction to Genetics
The Biosphere
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Suggested Pacing:
PACING
15-20 Days
10.1 – Cell growth – Asexual
and Sexual Reproduction
10.2 – Cell Division – Mitosis
Big Ideas:
Growth, Development, and
Reproduction.
Enduring Understanding
Describe the three stages of the cell
cycle, interphase, nuclear division,
cytokinesis. BIOB.1.1
Describe the events that occur during the
cell cycle: interphase, nuclear division
(i.e., mitosis), cytokinesis. BIO. B.1.1.1
Enduring Understanding
Explain how genetic information is
inherited. BIO.B.1.2
Key 1:
Describe and /or predict observed
patterns of inheritance (i.e., dominant,
recessive only) BIO.B.2.1.1
10.3 – The Cell Cycle
The size of a cell has limits.
10.4 – Cell differentiation
Key 2:
11.1 – Mendels work - Do we
go into Mendels work?
Focus Content & Major Activities
Cell division is an organized and
controlled process.
Overarching Question
How does a cell produce a new cell?
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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UNIT 8: TBD
The Biosphere
Big Idea/Key Concepts
Focus Content & Major Activities
Suggested Pacing: 15-20 Days
PACING
9th Grade Biology – Road Map
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