Content Standard: A. Classifying Life Forms
Students will understand that there are similarities within the diversity of all living things.
Common Assessment(s):

Performance Indicators Students will be able to:	Essential Elements (Specific Grade Level Learning Objectives)			Suggested Performance Activities	Suggested Classroom Assessments	Vocabulary
1. Compare systems of classifying organisms including systems used by scientists.	identify classification systems			Students will play a classification game consisting of categories and list of organisms (plants and animals)	Students will be given list of organisms to use to construct a classification chart (categories will be on the chart). Students will add 3 additional organisms to the chart.	behavioral adaptation characteristics continuation of species disadvantageous -characteristics genetic diversity genetic variation hereditary traits invertebrate migration recessive traits scientific naming species structural adaptation taxonomic group traits vertebrate
3. Describe some structural and behavioral adaptations that allow organisms to survive in a changing environment.	identify behavioral adaptations			Students will complete Explore Activity on p. 19 in text called "Investigate How a Plant's Parts Help It Survive." Students will become "Biosphere Architects" --Performance Assessment, p. 13-14 from Assessment Book, Ecosystems Around the World	LAD Changes in Plant Life <www.mainelad.org>