Matter, Energy and Organization of Living Things

1. The sun is the primary source of energy for all living things.
2. In order to survive, most living things require air, food, water, and ways to dispose of wastes.
3. Plants are living things that provide the basic food supply for all animals because only plants can manufacture food by utilizing the sun's energy.
4. Animals are living things. Some animals only eat plants for their food. These animals may, in turn, become food for other animals. This sequence is called a food chain.
5. The direction of arrows in a food chain illustration shows the flow of energy through the chain. An example of a food chain is:
      Sun -----> Grass -----> Rabbit -----> Fox
6. The requirements for life are not the same for all living things.
   1. Most plants need water, light, air, and nutrients to live.
   2. Most animals need air, food, and water to live.
7. Plants and animals are composed of different parts, performing different functions, but working together for the well being of the organism.
   1. Examples of animal parts include but are not limited to:
      1. Wings, feet, legs, and fins.
      2. Beaks, mouths, teeth, jaws, and tongues.
      3. Eyes, noses, ears, and skin.
      4. Claws, shells, and colors of body coverings.
      5. Feathers, fur, skin, and scales.
   2. Examples of plant parts include but are not limited to:
      1. Roots
      2. Stems
      3. Leaves
      4. Seeds
8. The major systems of the human body include the nervous, skeletal,
   respiratory, digestive, muscular, reproductive, and circulatory systems.
   1. Nervous
      1. Parts: brain and sense organs
      2. Functions: helps the body to react to changes in the environment.
   2. Skeletal
      1. Parts: bone
      2. Functions: provides support and protection.
   3. Respiratory
      1. Parts: nose, windpipe and lungs
      2. Functions: transport air into and out of the body.
   4. Digestive
      1. Parts: mouth, tongue, teeth, esophagus, stomach, intestine
      2. Functions: breaks down food to be used by the body.
   5. Circulatory
      1. Parts: heart, blood, blood vessels
      2. Functions: transports materials throughout the body.

Diversity and Biological Evolution

1. Based on observation, recognize that a vast diversity exists among plants and animals.
2. Recognize the similarities and differences within and between groups of living things.
3. Organisms can be grouped by using classification schemes.
   1. Organisms can be assigned to a group according to observable
      characteristics.
      1. Plants and animals.
      2. Animals with appendages, animals without appendages.
      3. Plants with roots, plants without roots.
   2. Individual living things vary within species.
      1. Animals: although dogs of a given breed are similar, they vary somewhat in size, color, and shape from one individual to another.
      2. Plants: although leaves on the same kind of maple tree are similar, they vary somewhat in size, shape and color from one leaf to another.

Reproduction and Heredity

1. Living things reproduce and produce offspring that resemble their parents.
2. Each kind of plant or animal continues beyond the life of the individual because each kind is able to produce offspring.
   1. Animals: an animal goes through a particular set of stages from young to adult. The adult gives rise to the young of the next generation.
   2. The complete sequence of changes is called a life cycle. Examples include the following:
      1. Butterflies go from egg to larva to pupa to adult.
      2. Frogs go from egg to tadpole to adult.
      3. Cows change gradually in size from young to adult.
   3. Plants: stages in the development of some plants include the seed, seedling, and mature plant.
      1. Each generation of flowering plants goes through changes from seed to mature plant. The mature plant gives rise to the seeds of the next generation. The completed sequence of changes in form is called a life cycle.
      2. A flower is a structure in a mature flowering plant that enables the offspring to be produced in the form of seeds.