Connecticut Science Standards

CONTENT STANDARD 3: Living Things And Their Environments

Students will understand that all organisms in the biosphere are linked to each other and to their physical environments by the transfer and transformation of matter and energy.

   Grades K - 4

. describe how a variety of organisms, such as producers, consumers and decomposers, obtain their basic needs (e.g., food, water, air);

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. explain how organisms interact with other organisms in different environments (e.g., mutualism, parasitism, competition); and

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. explain that some source of energy is needed for all organisms to stay alive and grow.

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   Grades 5-8

. describe the roles of producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem and provide specific examples of each;

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. explain the need for sun-light and other abiotic factors, such as water and air, in an ecosystem;

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. explain that while matter is recycled in an ecosystem, there is a one-way flow of energy in ecosystems;

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. explain that the number and variety of organisms and populations are dependent on the resources and physical factors of their environments; and

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. explain how both organisms and ecosystems can change if the physical conditions of an ecosystem change (e.g., a pond dries, a forest is destroyed by fire).

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CONTENT STANDARD 5: Relationships Of Structure And Function

Students will understand the classification and physiology of the great diversity of organisms and identify relationships of structure and function.

   Grades K - 4

. employ different ways of classifying organisms into groups, using a variety of common features (e.g., presence of feathers, pointy vs. smooth leaves, whether they make their own food or get it from other sources);

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:. identify anatomical and behavioral adaptations which allow organisms to survive in specific environments;

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. explain that the features of living things (e.g., trunks, tails, webbed feet) can be good indicators of their roles and places in an ecosystem;

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. recognize that living things often have specialized sensory organs that help them gather information about their environments; and

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. recognize that living things contain systems (such as digestion and respiration) that enable
them to carry out basic life processes.

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   Grades 5-8

. describe the major distinctions among the kingdoms of living things 
(e.g., prokaryotic/eukaryotic, nucleated/non-nucleated, heterotrophic/autotrophic);

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. describe ways in which internal and external structures, organ systems and body plans contribute to organisms being able to carry out life functions or processes (e.g., reproduction,
response to stimuli, production and/or digestion of food, and production of energy, circulation,
excretion, homeostasis);

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. describe and analyze ways in which scientists determine the relatedness of organisms;

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. explain the effects of disease on the inability of organisms to carry out essential life functions;

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. understand the complementary nature of structure and function; 

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. describe how different life functions (e.g., digestion, reproduction) are carried out by different organisms.