8th Grade
Reduce Video
Biology/Life Sciences Curriculum
B.5.c. Biology/Life Sciences
High Tech Harvest: Genetic Engineering and the Environment
In this unit, students examine how genetic engineering (biotechnology) is used to produce novel biomedical and agricultural products. They study a case story about the engineering of "super rice" and look at its potential applications. Students explore the ways genetic engineering can influence natural systems and human health as a basis for analyzing the implications of genetic engineering. They then identify the factors that should be considered in making decisions about the use of genetic engineering and learn about the stakeholders relevant to this decision-making process.
B.6.a. Biology/Life Sciences
Biodiversity-The Keystone to Life on Earth
Students use their knowledge of California, one of the most richly diverse regions on Earth, as to learn about biodiversity (biological diversity). This unit teaches students that the biodiversity represented by healthy natural ecosystems is the basis for the ecosystem goods and ecosystem services that are required for human survival. Case studies are included to portray various ways in which individual and collective actions affect biodiversity and the importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem services. Students examine the influence of human populations and actions on ecosystem functioning and health, and they explore the implications of losing biodiversity to natural systems and human societies in California and worldwide.
B.6.b. Biology/Life Sciences
Ecosystem Change in California
In this unit, students examine how California grassland ecosystems have changed over time as the result of a combination of natural and human-related causes. They read about the cause and effect relationships between various human activities and practices and the condition of natural ecosystems. Students work as ecologists to "examine" a particular plot of grassland and use data to make predictions about changes. They review current research about factors that can change ecosystems, including climate change and human practices. Finally, students consider how decision makers and stake-holders set policies for ecosystem management.
B.8.a. Biology/Life Sciences
Differential Survival of Organisms
This unit teaches students how natural selection determines the differential survival of groups of organisms. They investigate how naturally occurring abiotic and biotic factors as well as human activities influence the differential survival of organisms within a population of a given species. Students use their knowledge to analyze case studies about the effects of human activities on the rate of environment change and the differential survival of groups of organisms. In the final lesson students evaluate the factors that can cause significant changes to the distribution of organisms and predict their consequences.
B.8.b. Biology/Life Sciences
Biological diversity: The World's Riches
This unit examines how biological diversity within an ecosystem influences the chances that species will survive after major changes in the environment. Students study a map of global biomes and discuss the geographic extent, or distribution, of different biomes and the differing degrees of biological diversity within and between biomes. They compare the biological diversity of three desert ecosystems and identify factors that influence diversity, including precipitation, temperature, elevation, and latitude. Students then examine how natural forces and human activities affect the biodiversity of rainforests. Finally, students investigate the effects of the removal of food sources for one species and learn that higher levels of biological diversity increase the chance that at least some organisms will survive major environmental changes.
B.8.d. Biology/Life Sciences
The Isolation of Species
This unit teaches students how reproductive and geographic isolation play major roles in the evolution of animal species. In a case study, they examine how geographic isolation results in some unusual characteristics among island species, including gigantism, dwarfism, and flightlessness. Students investigate how natural and human activities influence this type of isolation and learn how populations with less genetic diversity are vulnerable to sudden environmental changes because they may not contain the necessary genetic diversity among the adults or offspring to endure these changes.
B.5.c. Biology/Life Sciences
High Tech Harvest: Genetic Engineering and the Environment
In this unit, students examine how genetic engineering (biotechnology) is used to produce novel biomedical and agricultural products. They study a case story about the engineering of "super rice" and look at its potential applications. Students explore the ways genetic engineering can influence natural systems and human health as a basis for analyzing the implications of genetic engineering. They then identify the factors that should be considered in making decisions about the use of genetic engineering and learn about the stakeholders relevant to this decision-making process.
B.6.a. Biology/Life Sciences
Biodiversity-The Keystone to Life on Earth
Students use their knowledge of California, one of the most richly diverse regions on Earth, as to learn about biodiversity (biological diversity). This unit teaches students that the biodiversity represented by healthy natural ecosystems is the basis for the ecosystem goods and ecosystem services that are required for human survival. Case studies are included to portray various ways in which individual and collective actions affect biodiversity and the importance of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem services. Students examine the influence of human populations and actions on ecosystem functioning and health, and they explore the implications of losing biodiversity to natural systems and human societies in California and worldwide.
B.6.b. Biology/Life Sciences
Ecosystem Change in California
In this unit, students examine how California grassland ecosystems have changed over time as the result of a combination of natural and human-related causes. They read about the cause and effect relationships between various human activities and practices and the condition of natural ecosystems. Students work as ecologists to "examine" a particular plot of grassland and use data to make predictions about changes. They review current research about factors that can change ecosystems, including climate change and human practices. Finally, students consider how decision makers and stake-holders set policies for ecosystem management.
B.8.a. Biology/Life Sciences
Differential Survival of Organisms
This unit teaches students how natural selection determines the differential survival of groups of organisms. They investigate how naturally occurring abiotic and biotic factors as well as human activities influence the differential survival of organisms within a population of a given species. Students use their knowledge to analyze case studies about the effects of human activities on the rate of environment change and the differential survival of groups of organisms. In the final lesson students evaluate the factors that can cause significant changes to the distribution of organisms and predict their consequences.
B.8.b. Biology/Life Sciences
Biological diversity: The World's Riches
This unit examines how biological diversity within an ecosystem influences the chances that species will survive after major changes in the environment. Students study a map of global biomes and discuss the geographic extent, or distribution, of different biomes and the differing degrees of biological diversity within and between biomes. They compare the biological diversity of three desert ecosystems and identify factors that influence diversity, including precipitation, temperature, elevation, and latitude. Students then examine how natural forces and human activities affect the biodiversity of rainforests. Finally, students investigate the effects of the removal of food sources for one species and learn that higher levels of biological diversity increase the chance that at least some organisms will survive major environmental changes.
B.8.d. Biology/Life Sciences
The Isolation of Species
This unit teaches students how reproductive and geographic isolation play major roles in the evolution of animal species. In a case study, they examine how geographic isolation results in some unusual characteristics among island species, including gigantism, dwarfism, and flightlessness. Students investigate how natural and human activities influence this type of isolation and learn how populations with less genetic diversity are vulnerable to sudden environmental changes because they may not contain the necessary genetic diversity among the adults or offspring to endure these changes.
