8th Grade Science Guide

8.3: Ecology 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 3

PACING

RESOURCES

KEY LANGUAGE USES

● 5Weeks

● CSD Storyline ● OER Textbook ● State Resource ● Vocabulary

● INFORM ● EXPLAIN ● ARGUE

STRAND Living things use energy from their environment to rearrange matter to sustain life. Photosynthetic organisms are able to transfer light energy to chemical energy. Consumers can break down complex food molecules to utilize the stored energy and use the particles to form new, life-sustaining molecules. Ecosystems are examples of how energy can fow while matter cycles through the living and nonliving components of systems. STANDARDS ● 8.3.1 Plan and conduct an investigation and use the evidence to construct an explanation of how photosynthetic organisms use energy to transform matter. Emphasize molecular and energy transformations during photosynthesis. (MS-LS1-7) ● 8.3.2 Develop a model to describe how food is changed through chemical reactions to form new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as matter cycles through an organism. Emphasis is on describing that during cellular respiration molecules are broken apart and rearranged into new molecules, and that this process releases energy. (MS-LS1-7) ● 8.3.3 Ask questions to obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how changes to an ecosystem affect the stability of cycling matter and the fow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. Emphasize describing the cycling of matter and fow of energy through the carbon cycle. (MS-LS1-6) Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) Science & Engineering Practices

● SEP 2: Developing and Using Models ● SEP 6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions Cross Cutting Concepts ● CCC 5: Energy and Matter

● Within individual organisms, food moves through a series of chemical reactions in which it is broken down and rearranged to form new molecules, to support growth, or to release energy. ● Cellular respiration in plants and animals involve chemical reactions with oxygen that release stored energy. In these processes, complex molecules containing carbon react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and other materials. ● Plants, algae (including phytoplankton), and many microorganisms use the energy from light to make sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water through the process of photosynthesis, which also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used immediately or stored for growth or later use.