SCIENCE.4.13.A — Vertical Alignment
Vertical alignment shows student expectations in the same subject area at different grade levels that are related to or build upon one another.
identify the structures of plants, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits;
identify the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds of plants and compare how those structures help different plants meet their basic needs for survival;
explore and explain how structures and functions of plants such as waxy leaves and deep roots enable them to survive in their environment; and
Recurring themes and concepts — Connections to the content
Patterns are regular sequences that can be found throughout nature.
Plants in similar environments will have similar structures (patterns). For example, plants in a dry environment often have deep root systems, whereas a shallow root system appears more often in a wet environment.
A system is a whole made of parts that work together. It has components and boundaries. It can interact with or be part of other systems.
For an organism (system) to thrive in its environment, all of its needs must be met. Each need is met when the organism's structures (parts) perform specific tasks.
A structure is an organized arrangement of particles, parts, or elements in a substance, body, or entity. A function is the purpose or reason for something to exist in a system. The function of a structure depends on the shapes of and relationships among its essential parts.
The structures of plants are specialized for certain functions. For example, a deep root system allows a plant to reach deeper water.
Cross-curricular Connections
ELAR.4.6.E make connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society
ELAR.4.6.H synthesize information to create new understanding
ELAR.4.7.C use text evidence to support an appropriate response
ELAR.4.13.C identify and gather relevant information from a variety of sources
ELAR.4.13.E demonstrate understanding of information gathered