Ocean Explorers

LS.K.1: Understand the characteristics of living organisms and nonliving things.

• LS.K.1.1 Engage in argument from evidence to summarize the characteristics of living organisms and nonliving things in terms of their: structure, growth, changes, movement, basic needs.
• LS.K.1.2 Use models to exemplify how animals use their body parts to obtain food and other resources, protect themselves, and move from place to place. 

LS.K.2 Understand characteristics of organisms that make them alike and different.

• LS.K.2.1 Analyze and interpret data to compare the characteristics of different types of the same animal to determine individual similarities and differences. 

ESS.K.1. Understand change and observable patterns of weather that occur from day to day and throughout the year.

LS.1.1 Understand the basic needs of a variety of plants and animals in different ecosystems.

• LS.1.1.1 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to summarize the needs of different plants and animals.
• LS.1.1.2 Analyze and interpret data to compare how the needs of plants and animals can be met in different environments. 

ESS.1.3 Understand that natural resources are important to humans.

• ESS.1.3.1 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to summarize ways in which humans use natural resources.
• ESS.1.3.2 Engage in argument from evidence to explain ways that humans can protect natural resources in the environment. 

ESS.1.2 Understand the physical properties of Earth materials.

• ESS.1.2.1 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to summarize the physical properties of Earth materials, including rocks, minerals, soils, and water.

PS.2.2 Understand the relationship between sound and vibrating objects.

• PS.2.2.1 Carry out investigations to illustrate how sound is produced by vibrating objects and columns of air.
• PS.2.2.2 Use models to summarize the relationship between sound and how sounds are produced and detected by parts of the body that vibrate.

LS.2.1 Understand animal life cycles.

• 2.L.1.1 Summarize the life cycle of animals including: birth, developing into an adult, reproducing, aging and death.
• LS.2.1.2 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to compare life cycles of different animals. into an adult, reproducing, aging and death.

LS.2.2 Understand that organisms differ from or are similar to their parents and other offspring based on characteristics of the organism.

• LS.2.2.1 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to summarize ways in which animals closely resemble their parents and ways they are different.

ESS2.1 Understand patterns of weather and factors that affect weather.

• ESS.2.1.1 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to summarize how energy from the sun serves as a source of light and warms the land, air, and water. 
• ESS.2.1.2 Use mathematics and computational thinking to summarize weather conditions (temperature, wind direction, wind speed, precipitation).
• ESS.2.1.3 Carry out investigations to collect data and compare weather patterns that occur over time and relate observable patterns to time of day and time of year.
• ESS.2.1.4 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to recognize the tools scientists use for observing, recording, and predicting weather changes from day to day and during the season.

LS.3.1 Understand human body systems and how they are essential for life: protection, movement, and support.

• LS.3.1.1 Use models to infer the functions of the skeletal and muscular systems.
• LS.3.1.2 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate scientific information to explain why skin is necessary for protection and for the body to remain healthy.

LS.3.2 Understand how plant structures aid in survival.

• LS.3.2.1 Carry out investigations to explain the structures and functions of plants and how they are essential for life.

LS.3.3 Understand how environmental factors aid the survival of plants.

• 3.L.2.1 Remember the function of the following plant structures as it relates to the survival of plants in their environment:(Roots – absorb nutrients; Stems – provide support; Leaves – synthesize food; Flowers – attract pollinators and produce seeds for reproduction 5D/E3b) 
• LS.3.3.1 Carry out investigations to explain how environmental conditions determine how well plants survive and grow.

ESS.3.2.1 Use models to compare Earth's saltwater and freshwater features (including oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and glaciers).

LS.4.1 Understand the effects of environmental changes, adaptations, and behaviors that enable organisms to survive in changing habitats.

• LS.4.1.1 Use models to explain that plants and animals have external structures that function to support survival.
• LS.4.1.2 Use models to explain that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information, and respond to the information in different ways.
• LS.4.1.3 Engage in argument from evidence to explain how differences among animals of the same population sometimes gives individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing in changing habitats.

LS.4.2 Understand the use of fossils as evidence of the history of Earth and its changing life forms.

• LS.4.2.1 Analyze and interpret data to compare fossils to one another and living organisms.
• LS.4.2.2 Analyze and interpret data to explain how fossils suggest ideas about Earth's early environment.

ESS.4.2 Understand patterns of change in Earth's surface over time.

• ESS.4.2.2 Carry out investigations to classify rocks as metamorphic, sedimentary, or igneous based on their composition, how they are formed, and the processes that create them.
• ESS.4.2.3 Use models to explain changes in Earth's surface over time (to include slow changes of erosion and weathering, and fast changes of earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity).

ESS.4.3 Understand changes caused by human impact on the environment.

• ESS.4.3.1 Ask questions to infer whether changes in an organism's environment are beneficial or harmful.
• ESS.4.3.2 Engage in argument from evidence to explain how humans can adapt their behavior to live in changing environments  (e.g. recycling wastes, establishing rain gardens, planting native species to prevent flooding and erosion).
• ESS.4.3.3 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to compare solutions to environmental problems impacting plants and animals.

LS.5.1 Understand how structures and systems of the human body perform functions necessary for life.

• LS.5.1.1 Use models to recognize the organizational structure of humans as a multicellular organism (cell, tissue, organ, system, organism).
• LS.5.1.2 Use models to compare the major systems of the human body (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, muscular, skeletal, nervous) as it relates to their functions necessary for life.

LS.5.2 Understand the interdependence of plants and animals within their ecosystem.

• LS.5.2.1 Engage in argument from evidence to compare the characteristics of several common ecosystems (including estuaries and salt marshes, oceans, lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, forests, and grasslands) in terms of their ability to support a variety of populations.
• LS.5.2.2 Use models to classify organisms within an ecosystem according to the function they serve: producers, consumers, or decomposers .
• LS.5.2.3 Use models to infer the effects that may result from the interconnected relationships of plants and animals to their ecosystem.

ESS.5.1 Understand how Earth systems (hydrosphere and atmosphere) impact patterns of weather and climate.

• ESS.5.1.1 Analyze and interpret data to compare daily and seasonal changes in weather conditions (including wind speed and direction, precipitation, and temperature) and patterns.
• ESS.5.1.2 Analyze and interpret weather data to explain current and upcoming weather conditions (including severe weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes) in a given location.
• ESS.5.1.3 Construct an explanation to summarize the ocean's influences on weather and climate in North Carolina.
• ESS.5.1.4 Use models to explain how the sun’s energy drives the processes of the water cycle (including evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation).

LS.6.1 Understand the structures, processes, and behaviors of plants that enable them to survive and reproduce.

• LS.6.1.1 Use models to explain how the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration work together to meet the needs of plants.

LS.6.2 Understand the flow of energy through ecosystems and the responses of populations to the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment.

• LS.6.2.1 Use models to summarize how energy derived from the sun is used by plants to produce sugars (photosynthesis) and is transferred to consumers and decomposers.
• LS.6.2.2 Analyze and interpret data to predict how the abiotic factors (such as temperature, water, sunlight, and soil quality) and biotic factors affect the ability of organisms to grow and survive in different biomes (freshwater, marine, temperate forest, rainforest, grassland, desert, taiga, tundra).

ESS.6.2 Understand the lithosphere and how interactions of constructive and destructive forces have resulted in changes in the surface of the earth over time.

• ESS.6.2.2 Construct an explanation to illustrate how the movement of lithospheric plates can create geologic landforms and cause major geologic events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
• ESS.6.2.3 Use models to explain the rock cycle and its relationship to the formation of soil (including how different types of soil come from different types of rocks).

ESS.6.3 Understand the reciprocal relationship between the lithosphere and humans.

• ESS.6.3.1 Engage in argument from evidence to explain that the good health of humans and the environment requires: monitoring of the lithosphere, maintaining soil quality and stewardship.
• ESS.6.3.2 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare the implications of sustainable and unsustainable land use practices (including agriculture and deforestation) and the importance of stewardship.

LS.7.1 Understand the processes, structures, and functions of living organisms that enable them to survive, reproduce, and carry out the basic functions of life.

• LS.7.1.1 Construct an explanation to conclude how the structures of single-celled organisms carry out all of the basic functions of life including: Euglena, Amoeba, Paramecium, Volvox.
• LS.7.1.2 Use models to explain how the relevant structures within cells (including cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and vacuoles) function to support the life of plant, animal, and bacterial cells.
• LS.7.1.3 Use models to explain how the hierarchical organization of multicellular organisms from cells to tissues to organs to systems to organisms functions to support life.
• LS.7.1.4 Construct an explanation to summarize how the major systems of the human body interact with each other to support life (including digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, nervous).

LS.7.2 Understand the relationship of the mechanisms of reproduction, patterns of inheritance, and potential variation among offspring.

• LS.7.2.1 Construct an explanation supported with scientific evidence to summarize the role of genes on chromosomes as inherited cellular structures which contribute to an organism's traits (not to include the structure of DNA)
• LS.7.2.2 Use models to explain how asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information while sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation (not to include specific phases of mitosis and meiosis).

ESS.7.1 Understand the atmosphere and how the cycling of water relates to Earth's weather and climate.

• ESS.7.1.1 Analyze and interpret data to compare the composition, properties and structure of Earth’s atmosphere to include: mixtures of gases and differences in temperature and pressure within layers.
• ESS.7.1.2 Use models to explain how the energy of the Sun and Earth’s gravity drive the cycling of water, including changes of state, as it moves through multiple pathways in Earth’s systems and relates to weather patterns on Earth.
• ESS.7.1.3 Analyze and interpret data to explain the relationship between the movement of air masses, high and low pressure systems, frontal boundaries and weather conditions that may result.
• ESS.7.1.4 Use models to predict weather conditions based on observations (including clouds, air masses, fronts), measurements (wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity and air pressure), weather maps, satellites and radar.
• ESS.7.1.5 Use models to explain the influence of convection, global winds, and the jet stream on weather and climatic conditions.

ESS.7.2 Understand the reciprocal relationship between the atmosphere and humans.

• ESS.7.2.1 Engage in argument from evidence to explain that the good health of humans and environment requires: monitoring of the atmosphere, maintaining air quality and stewardship.
• ESS.7.2.2 Analyze and interpret data to explain how changes in the structure and composition of the atmosphere affects the greenhouse effect and global temperatures.
• ESS.7.2.3 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain the impacts on humans and mitigation strategies of potentially hazardous environmental factors (including air quality index, UV index, Heat Index, Wildfires) and storms (hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, floods).

LS.8.2 Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment.

• LS.8.2.1 Carry out investigations to explain how changing biotic and abiotic factors such as food, water, shelter, and space affect populations in an ecosystem.
• LS.8.2.2 Construct an explanation to summarize the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers including the positive and negative consequences of such interactions including: coexistence and cooperation, competition (predator/prey), parasitism, and mutualism
• LS.8.2.3 Construct an explanation to summarize how food provides the energy and the building materials required for the growth and survival of all organisms (to include plants).
• LS.8.2.4 Use models to explain how the flow of energy within food webs is interconnected with the cycling of matter (water and carbon).

ESS.8.2 Understand the hydrosphere including freshwater, estuarine, and ocean systems.

• ESS.8.2.1 Use models to explain the structure of the hydrosphere including: water distribution on earth, local river basins, estuaries, and water availability.
• ESS.8.2.2 Use models to explain how temperature and salinity drive major ocean currents and how these currents impact climate, ecosystems, and the distribution of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms.

ESS.8.3 Understand the reciprocal relationship between the hydrosphere and humans.

• ESS.8.3.1 Analyze and interpret data to predict the safety and potability of water supplies in North Carolina based on physical and biological factors, including: temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates and phosphates, turbidity, and bio-indicators.
• ESS.8.3.2 Engage in argument from evidence to explain that the good health of humans and the environment requires: monitoring of the hydrosphere, water quality standards, methods of water treatment, maintaining safe water quality, and stewardship.

ESS.8.4 Understand the environmental implications associated with the various methods of obtaining, managing, and using energy resources.

• ESS.8.4.1 Construct an explanation to classify the primary sources of energy as either renewable (Geothermal, Biomass, Solar, Wind, Hydroelectric) or nonrenewable (Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Nuclear).
• ESS.8.4.2 Engage in argument from evidence to explain the environmental consequences of the various methods of obtaining, transforming, and distributing energy.
• ESS.8.4.3 Analyze and interpret data to illustrate the relationship between human activities and global temperatures since industrialization.
• ESS.8.4.4 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare the long term implications of the use of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and the importance of stewardship and conservation.

LS.Bio.1 Analyze how the relationship between structure and function supports life processes within organisms.

• LS.Bio.1.3 Use models to explain how the structure of organelles determines its function and supports overall cell processes.
• LS.Bio.1.4 Construct explanations to compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in terms of structures and degree of complexity.
• LS.Bio.1.5 Construct an explanation to summarize how DNA and RNA direct the synthesis of proteins.

LS.Bio.2 Analyze the growth and development processes of organisms.

• LS.Bio.2.1 Use models to illustrate how cellular division results in the reproduction, growth, and repair of organisms.

LS.Bio.3 Analyze the relationship between biochemical processes and energy use.

• LS.Bio.3.2 Use models to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into chemical energy.
• LS.Bio.3.3 Use models to illustrate how cellular respiration [aerobic and anaerobic] transforms chemical energy into ATP.

LS.Bio.4 Analyze the relationships between matter and energy within ecoystems.

• LS.Bio.4.1 Use models to illustrate how processes in organisms contribute to the flow of energy and the cycling of matter within an ecosystem.
• LS.Bio.4.2 Use models to explain the relationship between the flow of energy and cycling of matter among organisms in an ecosystem.

LS.Bio.5 Understand ecosystem dynamics, functioning, and resilience.

• LS.Bio.5.1 Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain how interactions between organisms (predator/prey, competition) affect carrying capacity and maintain stability in an ecosystem.
• LS.Bio.5.2 Engage in argument from evidence to evaluate various solutions to reduce the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

LS.Bio.6 Understand genetic mechanisms for variation.

• LS.Bio.6.1 Use models to explain how DNA is passed from parents to offspring through the processes of meiosis and fertilization in sexual reproduction.
• LS.Bio.6.2 Construct an explanation to summarize how inheritable genetic variations may result from: new genetic combinations in meiosis,mutations during replication, or mutations caused by environmental factors.

LS.Bio.7 Understand types of inheritance and how the environment can influence traits.

LS.Bio.8 Understand applications of genetics and biotechnology.

• LS.Bio.8.1 Analyze and interpret data to compare DNA samples.
• LS.Bio.8.2 Obtain and communicate information that summarizes the impact of biotechnology applications on the individual, society, and the environment, including agriculture and medicine.

LS.Bio.9 Understand natural selection as a mechanism for biological evolution.

• LS.Bio.9.1 Analyze and interpret data to summarize how various factors such as geographic isolation, pesticide resistance, antibiotic resistance can influence natural selection.
• LS.Bio.9.2 Construct an explanation to illustrate how common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
• LS.Bio.9.3 Use models to illustrate the conditions required for natural selection, including the overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, and the struggle to survive.
• LS.Bio.9.4 Construct an explanation to explain how natural selection leads to adaptations within populations.

LS.Bio.10 Analyze evolutionary relationships among organisms.

• LS.Bio.10.1 Construct explanations to illustrate how varying environmental conditions may result in: changes in the number of individuals of a species, the emergence of new species over time, or the extinction of other species.
• LS.Bio.10.2 Use models (including dichotomous keys, scientific nomenclature, cladograms, phylogenetic trees) to identify organisms and exemplify relationships.

ESS.EES.1 Explain how Earth's position relative to the sun influences conditions on Earth.

• ESS.EES.1.4 Construct an explanation to infer how incoming solar radiation interacts with Earth systems to support life.
• ESS.EES.2.4 Carry out investigations to explain how the rock cycle and rates of weathering, erosion, and soil formation influence Earth's systems.

ESS.EES.3 Analyze how the interactions between the hydrosphere and atmosphere transfer energy and influence climate.

• ESS.EES.3.1 Carry out investigations to explain the properties of water.
• ESS.EES.3.2 Use models to explain how water is an agent of energy transfer.
• ESS.EES.3.3 Analyze and interpret data to explain how major greenhouse gases influence climate.
• ESS.EES.3.5 Construct an explanation to conclude that heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere results in local, regional, global weather phenomena, and climate patterns.

ESS.EES.4 Analyze the connections between the biosphere and other Earth systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere).

• ESS.EES.4.1 Use models to explain how abiotic/biotic interactions shape various ecosystems.
• ESS.EES.4.2 Analyze and interpret data to explain how carbon cycling influences various ecosystems.
• ESS.EES.4.3 Analyze and interpret data to explain past climate trends.
• ESS.EES.4.4 Construct an explanation to predict how potential future changes in abiotic factors could impact biodiversity and species distribution.
• ESS.EES.4.5 Obtain, evaluate and communicate information to explain how biodiversity impacts ecosystem resilience.

ESS.EES.5 Evaluate how human consumption patterns impact Earth's systems.

• ESS.EES.5.1 Analyze and interpret data to explain the impacts of land use on Earth's systems.
• ESS.EES.5.2 Analyze and interpret data to evaluate how human use of ground and surface waters impacts water quality and availability in river basins, wetlands, estuaries, and aquifers.
• ESS.EES.5.3 Construct an argument  to evaluate the ways that human activities influence atmospheric composition.
• ESS.EES.5.4 Construct an argument to evaluate the benefits and trade-offs of using non-renewable or renewable energy sources for electricity production and transportation fuels.
• ESS.EES.5.5 Construct an argument to evaluate potential solutions that will ensure sustainable consumption of Earth's resources.
• ESS.EES.5.6 Construct an argument  to evaluate a range of solutions to mitigate impacts of human activities on Earth's systems.

ESS.EES.6 Analyze how Earth's systems impact humans and the biosphere.

• ESS.EES.6.1 Analyze and interpret data to infer how use of natural resources impacts ecosystems and human populations, including human health.
• ESS.EES.6.2 Construct an argument to infer how some natural hazards (such as flooding and wildfires) are increasing in frequency and intensity due to human activities.
• ESS.EES.6.3 Construct an argument to explain how natural hazards and other environmental problems may impact some human populations more than others.