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Standard 7.5.1
7.5.1

Construct an explanation that describes how the genetic variation of traits in a population can affect some individuals' probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment. Over time, specific traits may increase or decrease in populations. Emphasize  the use of proportional reasoning to support explanations of trends in changes to populations over time. Examples could include camouflage, variation of body shape, speed and agility, or drought tolerance.

Practices

Constructing explanations and designing solutions

  • Construct an explanation that includes qualitative or quantitative relationships between variables that describe phenomena

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS4.B: Natural Selection  

  • Natural selection leads to the predominance of certain traits in a population, and the suppression of others.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Cause and effect: mechanism and explanation

  • Phenomena may have more than one cause, and some cause and effect relationships in systems can only be described using probability.

Big Idea

Certain traits can affect an organism probability of survival.

7.5.2 & 7.5.3 storylines are combined
7.5.2
Standard 7.5.2

Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past.

Practices

Analyzing and interpreting data

  • Analyze and interpret data to determine similarities and differences in findings.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity  

  • The collection of fossils and their placement in chronological order (e.g., through the location of the sedimentary layers in which they are found or through radioactive dating) is known as the fossil record. It documents the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of many life forms throughout the history of life on Earth.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Patterns

  • Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.

Big Idea

Fossil record gives evidence that life has changed over time.

7.5.2 & 7.5.3 storylines are combined
Standard 7.5.3
7.5.3

Construct explanations that describe the patterns of body structure similarities and differences between modern organisms and between ancient and modern organisms to infer possible evolutionary relationships.

Practices

Constructing explanations and designing solutions

  • Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity  

  • Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms living today and between them and organisms in the fossil record, enable the reconstruction of evolutionary history and the inference of lines of evolutionary descent.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Patterns

  • Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.

Big Idea

Modern and ancient body structures gives evidence of evolutionary relationships.

Standard 7.5.4
7.5.4

Analyze displays of pictorial data to compare patterns in the embryological development across multiple species to identify similarities and differences not evident in the fully formed anatomy.

Practices

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

  • Analyze displays of data to identify linear and nonlinear relationships.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity  

  • Comparison of the embryological development of different species also reveals similarities that show relationships not evident in the fully formed anatomy.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Patterns

  • Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data

Big Idea

There are similarities and differences in embryo development across different species.

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