LIFE SCIENCE |
The Life Science standards
emphasize a more complex understanding of change, cycles, patterns, and
relationships in the living world. Students build on basic principles related
to these concepts by exploring the cellular organization and the classification
of organisms; the dynamic relationships among organisms, populations, communities,
and ecosystems; and change as a result of the transmission of genetic
information from generation to generation. Inquiry skills at this level include
organization and mathematical analysis of data, manipulation of variables in
experiments, and identification of sources of experimental error. Metric units
(SI – International System of Units) are expected to be used as the primary
unit of measurement to gather and report data at this level.
The Life Science standards continue to focus on student growth in understanding the nature of science. This scientific view defines the idea that explanations of nature are developed and tested using observation, experimentation, models, evidence, and systematic processes. The nature of science includes the concepts that scientific explanations are based on logical thinking; are subject to rules of evidence; are consistent with observational, inferential, and experimental evidence; are open to rational critique; and are subject to refinement and change with the addition of new scientific evidence. The nature of science includes the concept that science can provide explanations about nature and can predict potential consequences of actions, but cannot be used to answer all questions. |