Biology Program Goals and Objectives
Grade Level 6

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
Grade Level: 6

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 design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.

Objectives
1.01 Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.

1.02 Develop appropriate experimental procedures for:

  • Given questions.
  • Student generated questions.

1.03 Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and in field studies:

  • Recognize potential hazards.
  • Manipulate materials and equipment.
  • Conduct appropriate procedures.

1.05 Analyze evidence to:

  • Explain observations.
  • Make inferences and predictions.
  • Develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.

1.08 Use oral and written language to:

  • Communicate findings.
  • Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.

Science Competency
Goal 3		 The learner will build an understanding of the geological cycles, forces, processes, and agents which shape the lithosphere.

Objectives
3.05 Analyze soil properties that can be observed and measured to predict soil quality including:
  • Color.
  • Horizon profile.
  • Infiltration.
  • Soil temperature.
  • Structure.
  • Consistency.
  • Texture.
  • Particle size.
  • pH.
  • Fertility.
  • Soil moisture.

3.06 Evaluate ways in which human activities have affected Earth's pedosphere and the measures taken to control the impact:

  • Vegetative cover.
  • Agriculture.
  • Land use.
  • Nutrient balance.
  • Soil as a vector.

3.08 Conclude that the good health of environments and organisms requires:

  • Monitoring of the pedosphere.
  • Taking steps to maintain soil quality.
  • Stewardship.

Science Competency
Goal 4		 The learner will investigate the cycling of matter.

Objectives
4.01 Describe the flow of energy and matter in natural systems:
  • Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, from the sun through producers to consumers to decomposers.
  • Matter is transferred from one organism to another and between organisms and their environments.
  • Water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen are substances cycled between the living and non-living environments.

4.02 Evaluate the significant role of decomposers.

4.03 Examine evidence that green plants make food.

  • Photosynthesis is a process carried on by green plants and other organisms containing chlorophyll.
  • During photosynthesis, light energy is converted into stored energy which the plant, in turn, uses to carry out its life processes.

4.04 Evaluate the significance of photosynthesis to other organisms:

  • The major source of atmospheric oxygen is photosynthesis.
  • Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and oxygen is released during photosynthesis.
  • Green plants are the producers of food that is used directly or indirectly by consumers.

Science Competency
Goal 5		 The learner will build understanding of the Solar System.

Objectives
5.03 Relate the influence of the sun and the moon's orbit to the gravitational effects produced on Earth.
  • Solar storms.
  • Tides.

Science Competency
Goal 7		 The learner will conduct investigations and use technologies and information systems to build an understanding of population dynamics.

Objectives
7.01 Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
  • Coexistence/Cooperation/Competition.
  • Symbiosis.
  • Mutual dependence.
  • Light.
  • Temperature range.
  • Mineral availability.
  • Soil/rock type.
  • Water.
  • Energy.

7.03 Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms.

7.05 Examine evidence that overpopulation by any species impacts the environment.

7.06 Investigate processes which, operating over long periods of time, have resulted in the diversity of plant and animal life present today:

  • Natural selection.
  • Adaptation.

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.