The Living Environment Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science. Living things are both similar to and different from each other and nonliving things. Students describe the characteristics of and variations between living and nonliving things. Students describe the life processes common to all living things. Organisms inherit genetic information in a variety of ways that result in continuity of structure and function between parent and offspring.
Students recognize that traits of living things are both inherited and acquired or learned.
Students recognize that for humans and other living things there is genetic continuity between generations. The continuity of life is sustained through reproduction and development. Students describe the major stages in the life cycles of selected plants and animals. Students will grow mealworms over a period of weeks and describe its life functions as moving, eating, resting, and eliminating. The students will draw posters depicting the life cycle of a selected animal and label each of the stages.