USGS Education
| Grade 7 - Focus on Life Science Science Content Standards USGS Education Home / California Education Standards / California Resources |
| The Grade 7 science content standards focus on cell biology, genetics, evolution, life in earth history, anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, and the physical principles underlie biological structures and functions. |
National Biological Information Infrastructure - Teacher Resources |
Evolution3. Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes over many generations. As a basis for understanding this concept:a. Students know both genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and diversity of organisms. b. Students know the reasoning used by Charles Darwin in reaching his conclusion that natural selection is the mechanism of evolution. c. Students know how independent lines of evidence from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy provide the bases for the theory of evolution. d. Students know how to construct a simple branching diagram to classify living groups of organisms by shared derived characteristics and how to expand the diagram to include fossil organisms. e. Students know that extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and that the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient for its survival. |
Paleontology -- Selected Online Resources http://geology.er.usgs.gov/paleo/paleonet.shtml This page provides a selection of links to other World Wide Web sites dealing with Paleontology and related disciplines. Education Resources for Paleontology http://geology.er.usgs.gov/paleo/eduinfo.shtml This website provides links to on-line resources available from the USGS for topics related to paleontology and related earth and biological science disciplines. |
Earth and Life History (Earth Science)4. Evidence from rocks allows us to understand the evolution of life on Earth. As a basis for understanding this concept:a. Students know Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past and slow geologic processes have large cumulative effects over long periods of time. b. Students know the history of life on Earth has been disrupted by major catastrophic events, such as major volcanic eruptions or the impacts of asteroids. c. Students know that the rock cycle includes the formation of new sediment and rocks and that rocks are often found in layers, with the oldest generally on the bottom. d. Students know that evidence from geologic layers and radioactive dating indicates Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old and that life on this planet has existed for more than 3 billion years. e. Students know fossils provide evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed. f. Students know how movements of Earth's continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and present distribution of organisms. g. Students know how to explain significant developments and extinctions of plant and animal life on the geologic time scale. |
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Investigation and Experimentation7. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:a. Select and use appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers, balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and display data. b. Use a variety of print and electronic resources (including the World Wide Web) to collect information and evidence as part of a research project. c. Communicate the logical connection among hypotheses, science concepts, tests conducted, data collected, and conclusions drawn from the scientific evidence. d. Construct scale models, maps, and appropriately labeled diagrams to communicate scientific knowledge (e. g., motion of Earth's plates and cell structure). e. Communicate the steps and results from an investigation in written reports and oral presentations. |
See the California and the Map Databases resource pages for suggestions that students can use for investigation and experimentation. |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://education.usgs.gov/california/grade_7_life_science.htm
Page Contact Information: USGS Education Web Team
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Jul-2008 17:16:55 EDT
