A student expectation is directly related to the knowledge and skills statement, is more specific about how students demonstrate their learning, and always begins with a verb. Student expectations are further broken down into their component parts, often referred to as “breakouts.”
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
Patterns are regular sequences that can be found throughout nature.
Organisms in similar environments tend to display similar adaptations (a pattern). For example, many Arctic animals have white body coverings.
Cause-and-effect relationships are relationships between two or more variables or phenomena whereby one variable or event leads to a predictable response. Events have causes—sometimes simple, sometimes multi-faceted.
Organisms with traits that enhance their survival or reproductive success (cause) are more likely to pass on those genes to the next generation, increasing the prevalence of that trait in the next generation (effect).
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.
An adaptation (structure) allows an organism to meet its needs better or increase reproductive success (function).
ELAR.8.5.D create mental images to deepen understanding
ELAR.8.5.E make connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society
ELAR.8.5.F make inferences and use evidence to support understanding