SOLs & Curriculum Framework
1.4 The student will investigate and understand that plants have basic life needs and functional parts and can be classified according to certain characteristics.
Key concepts include:
a) plants need nutrients, air, water, light, and a place to grow;
b) basic parts of plants; and
c) plants can be classified based on a variety of characteristics.
Understanding the Standard (Background Information for Instructor Use Only)
Plants have basic needs, including nutrients, air, water, light, and a place with sufficient space to grow.
Plants have different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.
The functions of plant parts include the roots which hold plants in place and absorb water, seeds which make new plants, leaves which make food for the plant, and stems which hold the plants upright and transport materials up and down the plant.
Plants can be categorized by their different characteristics, such as edible/nonedible, flowering/nonflowering, and evergreen/deciduous. Students do not need to know the terms nonedible, edible, evergreen, and deciduous. The focus should be on the concept, not the terminology.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Processes
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will
conduct simple experiments/investigations related to plant needs by changing one variable (nutrients, air, water, light, or place to grow) at a time. Students do not need to know the term variable.
create and interpret a model/drawing of a plant, including seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
identify the functions of the seed, root, stem, and leaf.
classify plants by the characteristics of edible/nonedible, flowering/nonflowering, and evergreen/deciduous, using charts.
a) plants need nutrients, air, water, light, and a place to grow;
b) basic parts of plants; and
c) plants can be classified based on a variety of characteristics.
Understanding the Standard (Background Information for Instructor Use Only)
Plants have basic needs, including nutrients, air, water, light, and a place with sufficient space to grow.
Plants have different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.
The functions of plant parts include the roots which hold plants in place and absorb water, seeds which make new plants, leaves which make food for the plant, and stems which hold the plants upright and transport materials up and down the plant.
Plants can be categorized by their different characteristics, such as edible/nonedible, flowering/nonflowering, and evergreen/deciduous. Students do not need to know the terms nonedible, edible, evergreen, and deciduous. The focus should be on the concept, not the terminology.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Processes
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will
conduct simple experiments/investigations related to plant needs by changing one variable (nutrients, air, water, light, or place to grow) at a time. Students do not need to know the term variable.
create and interpret a model/drawing of a plant, including seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
identify the functions of the seed, root, stem, and leaf.
classify plants by the characteristics of edible/nonedible, flowering/nonflowering, and evergreen/deciduous, using charts.
1.5 The student will investigate and understand that animals, including humans, have basic needs and certain distinguishing characteristics.
Key concepts include:
a) basic needs include adequate air, food, water, shelter, and space (habitat);
b) animals, including humans, have many different physical characteristics; and
c) animals can be classified according to a variety of characteristics.
Understanding the Standard (Background Information for Instructor Use Only)
Animals, including people, have basic life needs, including air, food, water, shelter, and space (habitat). Students do not need to know the term habitat. The focus should be on the items that are necessary components of a habitat, not on the terminology.
Body coverings include hair, fur, feathers, scales, and shells.
Appendages are parts, such as arms, legs, wings, fins, and tails, which extend from the main body and have specific functions. Students do not need to know the term appendage. The focus should be on the concept, not the terminology.
Methods of movement may include walking, crawling, flying, and swimming.
Simple ways to classify animals are whether they are wild or domestic and whether they live on land or in water.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Processes
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will
make and communicate observations of live animals, including humans, about their needs, physical characteristics, and where they live.
describe the life needs of animals, including air, food, water, shelter, and space.
identify and chart simple characteristics by which animals can be classified, including body coverings (hair, fur, feathers, scales, and shells), body shape, appendages (arms, legs, wings, fins, and tails), methods of movement (walking, crawling, flying, and swimming), wild or domestic, and water homes or land homes.
distinguish between wild animals (raccoon, hawk, squirrel, shark) and domestic animals (dog, cat, sheep) and recognize examples of each.
infer types of animal homes (water or land), using the physical characteristics of the animals, such as scales and fins that allow fish to live and move in water or fur and legs that allow dogs to live and move on land.
classify animals by where they live (their homes).
a) basic needs include adequate air, food, water, shelter, and space (habitat);
b) animals, including humans, have many different physical characteristics; and
c) animals can be classified according to a variety of characteristics.
Understanding the Standard (Background Information for Instructor Use Only)
Animals, including people, have basic life needs, including air, food, water, shelter, and space (habitat). Students do not need to know the term habitat. The focus should be on the items that are necessary components of a habitat, not on the terminology.
Body coverings include hair, fur, feathers, scales, and shells.
Appendages are parts, such as arms, legs, wings, fins, and tails, which extend from the main body and have specific functions. Students do not need to know the term appendage. The focus should be on the concept, not the terminology.
Methods of movement may include walking, crawling, flying, and swimming.
Simple ways to classify animals are whether they are wild or domestic and whether they live on land or in water.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Processes
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will
make and communicate observations of live animals, including humans, about their needs, physical characteristics, and where they live.
describe the life needs of animals, including air, food, water, shelter, and space.
identify and chart simple characteristics by which animals can be classified, including body coverings (hair, fur, feathers, scales, and shells), body shape, appendages (arms, legs, wings, fins, and tails), methods of movement (walking, crawling, flying, and swimming), wild or domestic, and water homes or land homes.
distinguish between wild animals (raccoon, hawk, squirrel, shark) and domestic animals (dog, cat, sheep) and recognize examples of each.
infer types of animal homes (water or land), using the physical characteristics of the animals, such as scales and fins that allow fish to live and move in water or fur and legs that allow dogs to live and move on land.
classify animals by where they live (their homes).