HS-LS: Life Science

HS-LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

HS-LS1-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.

Building DNA
Genetic Engineering
RNA and Protein Synthesis
Enzymes
Protein Synthesis

HS-LS1-2: Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.

Cell Types
Circulatory System
Digestive System
Senses
Diffusion
Enzymes
Osmosis
Photosynthesis

HS-LS1-3: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.

Homeostasis
Human Homeostasis
Paramecium Homeostasis
Osmosis

HS-LS1-4: Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.

Cell Division
Embryo Development
Meiosis
Meowsis

HS-LS1-5: Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

Cell Energy Cycle
Photosynthesis Lab
Photosynthesis

HS-LS1-6: Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

Dehydration Synthesis

HS-LS1-7: Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy.

Cell Energy Cycle
Cell Respiration

HS-LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

HS-LS2-1: Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.

Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem
Rabbit Population by Season
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

HS-LS2-2: Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Microevolution
Prairie Ecosystem
Rabbit Population by Season
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric
Evolution

HS-LS2-3: Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Cell Respiration

HS-LS2-4: Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Photosynthesis

HS-LS2-5: Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

Carbon Cycle
Cell Energy Cycle
Plants and Snails
Pond Ecosystem

HS-LS2-6: Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Food Chain
Forest Ecosystem
Prairie Ecosystem

HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

GMOs and the Environment
Nitrogen Cycle

HS-LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Evolution

HS-LS3-1: Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.

Building DNA
DNA Analysis
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Genetic Engineering
Human Karyotyping
Meiosis
Meowsis

HS-LS3-2: Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.

Building DNA
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Meiosis
Microevolution
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Evolution
Meowsis

HS-LS3-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.

Chicken Genetics
Fast Plants^® 1 - Growth and Genetics
Fast Plants^® 2 - Mystery Parent
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Microevolution
Mouse Genetics (One Trait)
Mouse Genetics (Two Traits)

HS-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

HS-LS4-1: Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.

Cladograms
Embryo Development
Evolution: Natural and Artificial Selection
Human Evolution - Skull Analysis
Natural Selection
RNA and Protein Synthesis
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric

HS-LS4-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Natural Selection
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric
Evolution

HS-LS4-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Microevolution
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric
Evolution

HS-LS4-4: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Microevolution
Natural Selection
Evolution

HS-LS4-5: Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Coral Reefs 1 - Abiotic Factors
Coral Reefs 2 - Biotic Factors
Evolution: Mutation and Selection
Natural Selection
Rabbit Population by Season
Rainfall and Bird Beaks - Metric
Evolution

HS-LS4-6: Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.

GMOs and the Environment