Bath School Department 2003
Content Area: Science
Grade 7

Content Standard: A. Classifying Life Forms
Students will understand that there are similarities within the diversity of all living things.
Common Assessment(s):
MAP Task: Organizing Life
Performance Indicators
Students will be able to:
Essential Elements
Specific grade level learning objectives)
Siggested Performance Activities
Suggested
Classroom Assessments
Vocabulary

1.  Compare systems of classifying organisms including systems used by scientists.

Students understand, design, and incorporate different classification systems.

Students will construct and use a dichotomous key to classify organisms.

Students will use a microscope to observe, label, and draw various monera, protist, fungi, and plant

Students will name the seven levels of classification, and describe in words and diagrams (i.e. classification pyramid) which level is the most broad and which level is the most specific.

 Students will name the five kingdoms, decipher the distinguishing characteristics of each kingdom, and assign organisms to kingdoms based on these characteristics

Kingdom
phylum
class
order
family
genus
species
subgroups
taxonomy

2. Decipher the systems for assigning a scientific name to every living thing.

Students understand relatedness of organisms based on internal and external structures.

Students understand groups are mutually exclusive.

Students will read A scientific way to name

Students will create fictitious organisms and name the organisms based on its characteristics.

Carolus Linneaus

3. Describe some structural and behavioral adaptations that allow organisms to survive in a changing environment.

Students can identify an organism's structural and behavioral characteristics and how they relate to the environment.

Students will pick and research an organism. A comparison essay of the organism's structural and behavioral adaptations will be made to the organism's environment. Ex: What allowed the woolly mammoth to exist in the Ice Age? Why did the mammoth become extinct?

Student identify what adaptations allow organisms to survive in various environments.

Students will be assessed on the performance research essay.

adaptation
extinction