What does a student learn in StateVirginia,GradeGrade 10,SubjectScience?

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific skills and processes by:

The student will investigate and understand that there are common mechanisms for inheritance. Key ideas include:

The student will investigate and understand that Life History Theory allows for the prediction of an organism's development and behaviors. Key concepts include:

The student will understand that the individual is the basic unit of ecology. Key ideas include:

The student will investigate and understand that plants have evolved a variety of adaptations to survive, grow, and reproduce in the wide range of environmental conditions on Earth. Key environmental conditions include:

The student will investigate and understand that animals have evolved a variety of adaptations to survive, grow, and reproduce in the diversity of environments existing on earth. Adaptions include:

The student will investigate and understand that different factors influence population density, dispersion, and demographics and use models as predictors of population growth. Key concepts include:

The student will investigate and understand that intraspecific interactions and natural selection have an impact on a population. Key ideas include:

The student will explore and analyze community structures and interactions. Key concepts include:

The student will understand the energy flow through an ecosystem. Key concepts include:

The student will investigate and understand that dead organic matter is crucial to the internal cycling of nutrients in an ecosystem. Key concepts include:

The student will investigate and understand the effect of human influence on an ecosystem. Key concepts include:

The student will analyze how biotic and abiotic factors interact to affect the distribution of species and the diversity of life on Earth. Key concepts include:

Students will assess the impact of human activities on the natural world, and research how ecological theory can address current issues facing our society, both locally and globally. Key issues include:

asking questions and defining problems

ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena and/or organisms or from examining models and theories, or unexpected results, and/or to seek additional information

determine which questions can be investigated within the scope of the school laboratory or field to determine relationships between independent and dependent variables

make hypotheses that specify what happens to a dependent variable when an independent variable is manipulated

planning and carrying out investigations

individually and collaboratively plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations

plan and conduct investigations or test design solutions in a safe and ethical manner including considerations of environmental, social, and personal impacts

determine appropriate sample size and techniques

select and use appropriate tools and technology to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data

interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data

construct and interpret data tables showing independent and dependent variables, repeated trials, and means

construct, analyze, and interpret graphical displays of data, including scatterplots and line plots and consider limitations of data analysis

apply mathematical concepts and processes to scientific questions

use data in building and revising models, supporting explanation for phenomena, or testing solutions to problems

analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution

constructing and critiquing conclusions and explanations

make quantitative and/or qualitative claims regarding the relationship between dependent and independent variables

construct and revise explanations based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review

apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to provide an explanation of phenomena and design solutions

compare and evaluate competing arguments or design solutions in light of currently accepted explanations and new scientific evidence

construct arguments or counter arguments based on data and evidence

differentiate between a scientific hypothesis and theory

developing and using models

evaluate the merits and limitations of models

develop, revise, and/or use models based on evidence to illustrate or predict relationships

develop and/or use models to generate data to support explanations, predict phenomena, analyze systems, and/or solve problems

obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

compare, integrate, and evaluate sources of information presented in different media or formats to address a scientific question or solve a problem

gather, read, and evaluate scientific and/or technical information from multiple authoritative sources, assessing the evidence and credibility of each source

communicate scientific and/or technical information about phenomena in multiple formats

Explain how the Life History Theory predicts an organism's potential development and interactions

Describe the characteristics that make up an organism's life history

Investigate differences in development among different groups of organisms

Compare and contrast K-selection and R-selection

Predict how an organism would grow, develop, and reproduce based on its life history

Investigate differences in animal behavior (such as taxis v. kinesis)

classification is based on molecular phylogenetics, structural, and biochemical characteristics

organisms can be classified based on how they use energy

systemics, the science of grouping and categorizing organisms, is adaptable to new scientific discoveries

quantities of reactants for photosynthesis

temperature

nutrient availability

predators

natural selection

adaptations

environmental relationships

body size

acquiring and digesting food

oxygen absorption

maintaining temperature and water balance

variations to light and temperature

basic structure of ecological populations includes population distribution and population abundance;

factors that regulate population growth include intraspecific competition in population growth and population density;

limits to population growth include limiting factors, population density, and carrying capacity;

population growth can be described as geometric or exponential;

models are used to predict population growth

the impact of rapid growth of human population is a source of environmental problems.

there is intraspecific and interspecific competition

organisms have symbiotic relationships

species interactions (e.g. predation, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, and competition) and adaptations have evolved in response to interspecific selective pressures;

ecological niches and resource partitioning impact interactions

dominant, keystone, foundation, and endangered species have roles in ecosystems and communities, locally and globally;

species diversity relates to the stability of ecosystems and communities

food chains, webs, and pyramids model energy flow in ecosystems

primary productivity is important in ecosystems

efficiency of energy use is important

thermodynamic principles apply in an ecological system

the stability of an ecosystem is related to the biodiversity

climate impacts the type of decomposers in an ecosystem

rate of decomposition varies by organism and climate

Humans influence the pattern of natural changes such as primary/secondary succession and desertification

the biotic and abiotic components that define various biomes and aquatic life zones

global climate patterns and biogeography impact diversity

different factors lead to the species richness of an ecosystem and the importance of biodiversity

natural selection has a role in organismal adaptations that are specific to their habitats

major primary and secondary pollutants

sustainable and unsustainable use of resources, including soil, timber, fish and wild game, mineral resources, and nonrenewable energy;

natural and anthropogenic climate change

habitat fragmentation and habitat loss on biodiversity in relation to island biogeography, and apply island biogeography theory to the design of parks and nature preserves; and

the ecological impact of agriculture (historical and modern) in the environment and its implications for feeding the world’s population.