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Hydromania's Biology Unit
and Washington's Essential Academic Learning Requirements

The following chart travels through the Biology Unit, tying it to the Washington Essential Academic Learning Requirements 2000 (this will link you to the State of Washington's Education Reform website) that are addressed by that unit. Sometimes only parts of a particular benchmark will be applicable to a Hydromania unit, but we thought it best to cite the entire benchmark for easier reference to these state goals. Please note also that because a lesson can be taught and expanded on at many levels of thoroughness, benchmarks were included assuming the most thorough coverage of the topic. Therefore, each teacher will want to review the listed benchmarks in order to see for her/himself which ones are in agreement with their plans. Hopefully you will find this to be a helpful and timesaving tool as you help students rise to the challenge of meeting these goals.

Curriculum Topic Essential Academic Learning Requirement Subtopic (if applicable)/
Grade 4 and 7 Benchmarks
Topic X:
Biology 		Science:
The student understands and uses scientific concepts and principles.
To meet this standard, the student will use properties to identify, describe, and categorize substances, materials, and objects, and use characteristics to categorize living things.		 Physical Science: Properties of substances:
  • Grade 4:
    > use properties to sort natural and manufactured materials and objects, for example, size, weight, shape, color, texture, and hardness.
  • Grade 7:
    > use physical and chemical properties to identify and describe substances, for example density, boiling point, and solubility.
Life science: Basis of biological diversity:
  • Grade 4:
    > distinguish living organisms from nonliving objects, and use characteristics to sort common organisms into plant and animal groups.
  • Grade 7:
    > categorize plants and animals into groups according to how they accomplish life processes and by similarities and differences in external and internal structures.
Science:
The student understands and uses scientific concepts and principles.
To meet this standard, the student will recognize the components, structure, and organization of systems and the interconnections within and among them.		 Systems:
  • Grade 4:
    > identify the parts of a system, how the parts go together, and how they depend on each other.
  • Grade 7:
    > describe how the parts of a system interact and influence each other.
Life Science: Structure and organization of living systems:
  • Grade 4:
    > know that living things are composed of parts made of cells.
  • Grade 7:
    > know that specialized cells within multicellular organisms form different kinds of tissues, organs, and organ systems to carry out life functions.
Life Science: Molecular basis of heredity:
  • Grade 4:
    > describe the life cycles of plants and animals, and recognize the differences between inherited and acquired characteristics.
  • Grade 7:
    > understand that all living things reproduce and pass on genetic information, and that an organism's characteristics are determined by both genetic and environmental influences.
Science:
The student understands and uses scientific concepts and principles.
To meet this standard, the student will understand how interactions within and among systems cause changes in matter and energy.		 Physical Science: Forces to explain motion:
  • Grade 4:
    > investigate and recognize factors which determine the effects of a push or pull on the motion of objects.
  • Grade 7:
    > understand the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of objects along a straight line.
Science:
The student understands and uses scientific concepts and principles.
To meet this standard, the student will understand how interactions within and among systems cause changes in matter and energy.		 Life Science: Life processes and the flow of matter and energy:
  • Grade 4:
    > recognize that living things need constant energy supplied from food or light and that, in ecosystems, substances such as air, water, nutrients, and the chemicals in food are continually recycled.
  • Grade 7:
    > understand that individual organisms use matter and energy for life processes, and the mechanisms accomplishing these processes are complex, integrated, and regulated.
Life Science: Biological evolution:
  • Grade 4:
    > know that fossil records show patterns of structural change in organisms over time.
  • Grade 7:
    > describe how biological evolution accounts for species diversity, adaptation, natural selection, extinction, and change in organisms over time.
Life Science: Interdependence of life:
  • Grade 4:
    > describe how an organism's behavior and ability to survive is influenced by its environment, other life forms, and availability of food and/or other resources.
  • Grade 7:
    > explain how organisms interact with their environment and with other organisms to acquire energy, cycle matter, influence behavior, and establish competitive or mutually beneficial relationships.
Life Science: Environmental and resource issues:
  • Grade 4:
    > know humans and other living things depend on the natural environment, and can cause changes in their environment that affect their ability to survive.
  • Grade 7:
    > explain how human societies use of natural resources affects quality of life and the health of ecosystems.
Science:
The student knows and applies the skills and processes of science and technology.
To meet this standard, the student will develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.		 Questioning:
  • Grade 4:
    > ask questions about objects, organisms, and events in the environment.
  • Grade 7:
    > generate questions that can be answered through scientific investigations.
Designing and conducting investigations:
  • Grade 4:
    > plan and conduct simple investigations, using appropriate tools, measures, and safety rules.
  • Grade 7:
    > design, conduct, and evaluate scientific investigations, using appropriate equipment, mathematics, and safety procedures.
Explanation:
  • Grade 4:
    > use data to construct reasonable explanations.
  • Grade 7:
    > use evidence from scientific investigations to think critically and logically to develop descriptions, explanations, and predictions.
Communication:
  • Grade 4:
    > record and report observations, explanations, and conclusions using oral, written, and mathematical expression.
  • Grade 7:
    > communicate scientific procedures, investigations, and explanations orally, in writing, with computer-based technology, and in the language of mathematics.
Science:
The student knows and applies the skills and processes of science and technology.
To meet this standard, the student will apply science knowledge and skills to solve problems or meet challenges.		 Identifying problems:
  • Grade 4:
    > identify problems found in familiar contexts in which science/technology can be or has been used to design solutions.
  • Grade 7:
    > identify and examine common, everyday challenges or problems in which science/technology can be or has been used to design solutions.
Evaluating potential solutions:
  • Grade 4:
    > evaluate how well a design or a product solves a problem.
  • Grade 7:
    > compare and contrast multiple solutions to a problem or challenge.
Science:
The student understands the nature and contexts of science and technology.
To meet this standard, the student will understand the nature of scientific inquiry.		 Intellectual honesty:
  • Grade 4:
    > understand that all scientific observations should be reported accurately even when they contradict expectations.
  • Grade 7:
    > understand the operational and ethical traditions of science and technology such as skepticism, cooperation, intellectual honesty, and proprietary discovery.
Limitations of science and technology:
  • Grade 4:
    > distinguish between questions that can be answered with science and technology and those that cannot.
  • Grade 7:
    > understand that scientific investigation is limited to the natural world.
Dealing with inconsistencies:
  • Grade 4:
    > explain why similar investigations may not produce similar results.
  • Grade 7:
    > provide more than one explanation for events or phenomena; defend or refute the explanations using evidence.
Evaluating methods of investigation:
  • Grade 4:
    > recognize that results of scientific investigations can come from expected and unexpected sources.
  • Grade 7:
    > describe how methods of investigation relate to the validity of scientific experiments, observations, theoretical models, and explanation.
Evolution of scientific ideas:
  • Grade 4:
    > know that ideas in science change as new scientific thinking, theories, and evidence arise.
  • Grade 7:
    > explain how scientific theory, hypothesis generation, experimentation, and observation are interrelated and may lead to changing ideas.
Science:
The student knows and applies the skills and processes of science and technology.
To meet this standard, the student will know that science and technology are human endeavors, interrelated to each other, to society, and to the workplace.		 All peoples contribute to science and technology:
  • Grade 4:
    > know that science and technology have been practiced by all peoples throughout history.
  • Grade 7:
    > know that science and technology have been developed, used, and affected by many diverse individuals, cultures, and societies throughout human history.
Relationship of science and technology:
  • Grade 4:
    > recognize that people have invented tools for everyday life and for scientific investigations.
  • Grade 7:
    > compare and contrast scientific inquiry and technological design in terms of activities, results, and influence on individuals and society; know that science enables technology and vice versa.
Careers and occupations using science, mathematics, and technology:
  • Grade 4:
    > identify the knowledge and skills of science, mathematics, and technology used in common occupations.
  • Grade 7:
    > investigate the use of science, mathematics, and technology within occupational/career areas of interest.
Art:
The student understands and applies art knowledge and skills.
To meet this standard, the student will develop arts skills and techniques.
  • Grade 4:
    > identify and use basic art skills and techniques.
  • Grade 7:
    > develop arts skills and techniques.
Art:
The student understands and applies art knowledge and skills.
To meet this standard, the student will understand the history and traditions of the arts in various cultures.
  • Grade 4:
    > identify representative works of art from a variety of cultures and historical periods.
  • Grade 7:
    > recognize and explain the features of arts genres/styles from a variety of cultures and historical periods.
Art:
The student makes connections within and across the arts, to other disciplines, cultures, life, and work.
To meet this standard, the student will demonstrate and analyze the connections between the arts and other content areas.
  • Grade 4:
    > identify skills, concepts and vocabulary common to the arts and other disciplines.
  • Grade 7:
    > explain relationships between other disciplines and the arts.
Art:
The student makes connections within and across the arts, to other disciplines, cultures, life, and work.
To meet this standard, the student will understand the influence of the arts in shaping and reflecting cultures and history.
  • Grade 4:
    > identify representative works of art from various cultures and historical periods.
  • Grade 7:
    > understand the role of the arts in the historical development of cultures.
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