Biology Program Goals and Objectives
Grade Level 5

About the Biology Program
All students will participate in the Barrier Island Ecology Course at the same time. Small groups of approximately twelve students together with a Sound to Sea instructor each start in a different habitat area and begin a rotation. This component introduces students to the five habitats (beach/ocean, maritime forest, freshwater pond, salt marsh, and sound/estuary), geological history, basic ecological concepts and general habitat study skills that are reinforced throughout the entire program. Sound to Sea instructors encourage exploration and present various ecological concepts (such as habitats, cycles, communities, populations, species, food webs, decomposition, etc.) as students discover concrete evidence that relates to that concept. As the groups explore each habitat, students observe the differences and make comparisons. The Habitat Study skills include: observation, measurement, data collection, and analysis and assessment of habitat conditions with respect to soil, air, water, wind, temperature, and human impact; and observation, identification, classification, mapping and representative sampling of species present within the habitat.

Main Curriculum Area: Science
Other Curriculum Area: Social Studies
Grade Level: 5

Primary Goals and Objectives:
These objectives will be covered during all Biology Program classes. Some objectives are more specific to one habitat than another, so if your schedule does not allow you to take all offered classes, or if there are particular objectives that you want to make sure we cover, please let us know what your specific needs are.

Science Competency
Goal 1		 The learner will conduct investigations to build an understanding of the interdependence of plants and animals.

Objectives
1.01Describe and compare several common ecosystems (communities of organisms and their interaction with the environment).

1.02 Identify and analyze the functions of organisms within the population of the ecosystem:

  • Producers.
  • Consumers.
  • Decomposers.

1.03 Explain why an ecosystem can support a variety of organisms.

1.04 Discuss and determine the role of light, temperature, and soil composition in an ecosystem's capacity to support life.

1.05 Determine the interaction of organisms within an ecosystem.

1.06 Explain and evaluate some ways that humans affect ecosystems.

  • Habitat reduction due to development.
  • Pollutants.
  • Increased nutrients.

1.07 Determine how materials are recycled in nature.



Science Competency
Goal 2		 The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of landforms.

Objectives
2.01 Identify and analyze forces that cause change in landforms over time including.
  • Water and Ice.
  • Wind.
  • Gravity.

2.02 Investigate and discuss the role of the water cycle and how movement of water over and through the landscape helps shape land forms.

2.04 Describe the deposition of eroded material and its importance in establishing landforms including:

  • Deltas.
  • Flood Plains.

2.05 Discuss how the flow of water and the slope of the land affect erosion.

2.06 Identify and use models, maps, and aerial photographs as ways of representing landforms.

2.07 Discuss and analyze how humans influence erosion and deposition in local communities, including school grounds, as a result of:

  • Clearing land.
  • Planting vegetation.
  • Building dams.
Science Competency
Goal 3		 The learner will conduct investigations and use appropriate technology to build an understanding of weather and climate.

Objectives
3.01 Investigate the water cycle including the processes of:
  • Evaporation.
  • Condensation.
  • Precipitation.
  • Run-off.

3.04 Explain how global atmospheric movement patterns affect local weather.

3.05 Compile and use weather data to establish a climate record and reveal any trends.
Fifth Grade United States History, Canada, Mexico, and Central America
Social Studies Skill Competency
Goal 1		 The learner will apply key geographic concepts to the United States and other countries of North America.

Objectives
1.01 Describe the absolute and relative location of major landforms, bodies of water, and natural resources in the United States and other countries of North America.

1.06 Explain how people of the United States and other countries of North America adapt to, modify, and use their physical environment.


Social Studies Skill Competency
Goal 6		 The learner will recognize how technology has influenced change within the United States and other countries in North America.

Objectives
6.01 Explore the meaning of technology as it encompasses discoveries from the first primitive tools to today's personal computer.

6.02 Relate how certain technological discoveries have changed the course of history and reflect on the broader social and environmental changes that can occur from the discovery of such technologies.

6.03 Forecast how technology can be managed to have the greatest number of people enjoy the benefits.

6.04 Determine how citizens in the United States and the other countries of North America can preserve fundamental values and beliefs in a world that is rapidly becoming more technologically oriented.


Social Studies
K-12 Skill Competency
Goal 2		 The learner will acquire strategies to access a variety of sources, and use appropriate research skills to gather, synthesize, and report information using diverse modalities to demonstrate the knowledge acquired.

Objectives
2.04 Utilize community-related resources such as field trips, guest speakers, and interviews.


Social Studies
K-12 Skill Competency
Goal 3		 The learner will acquire strategies to analyze, interpret, create, and use resources and materials.

Objectives
3.01 Use map and globe reading skills.

Social Studies
K-12 Skill Competency
Goal 4		 The learner will acquire strategies needed for applying decision-making and problem-solving techniques both orally and in writing to historic, contemporary, and controversial world issues.

Objectives
4.01 Use hypothetical reasoning processes.

4.02 Examine, understand, and evaluate conflicting viewpoints.

4.04 Apply conflict resolutions.

4.05 Predict possible outcomes.

4.06 Draw conclusions.

4.08 Develop hypotheses.