Unit Overview/Summary:  

Summary  

The unit organizes performance expectations with a focus on helping students build understanding of traits of organisms. Instruction developed from this unit should always maintain the three-dimensional nature of the standards and recognize that instruction is not limited to the practices and concepts directly linked with any of the unit performance expectations. 

Connections between unit Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)  

The idea that when waves move across the surface of deep water, there is no net motion in the direction of the wave except when the water meets a beach (PS4.A as in 4-PS4-1) connects to the idea that a variety of hazards results from natural processes such as tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions (ESS3.B as in 4-ESS3- 2). The idea that most earthquakes and volcanoes occur in bands that are often along the boundaries between continents and oceans (ESS2.B as in 4-ESS2-2) also connects to the idea that humans cannot eliminate the hazards but can take steps to reduce their impacts (ESS3.B as in 4-ESS3-2). This concept that humans can affect the natural world and can change the way it affects us could also connect to the idea that energy and fuels that humans use are derived from natural sources, and their use affects the environment in multiple ways (ESS3.A as in 4-ESS3-1). The engineering design idea that communicating with peers about proposed solutions is an important part of the design process, and shared ideas can lead to improved designs. (ETS1.B as in 3-5-ETS1-2) could be applied to multiple science concepts, such as that energy and fuels that humans use are derived from natural sources, and their use affects the environment in multiple ways (ESS3.A as in 4-ESS3-1) and that humans cannot eliminate the hazards from natural processes (e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions) but can take steps to reduce their impacts (ESS3.B as in 4-ESS3-2). Connections could be made through tasks such as identifying solutions to reduce human impacts on the environment from energy and fuel use, and identifying solutions that reduce the impacts of hazards from natural processes. For either connection, students should communicate with their peers about solutions and reflect on how such communication can lead to improved solutions. 

Unit Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)

Instruction leading to this unit of PEs will help students build toward proficiency in elements of the practices of developing and using models (4-PS4-1), planning and carrying out investigations (4-ESS2-1), analyzing and interpreting data (4-ESS2-2), and constructing explanations and designing solutions (4-ESS3-2 and 3-5-ETS1-2), and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information (4-ESS3-1). Many other practice elements can be used in instruction. 

Unit Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

Instruction leading to this unit of PEs will help students build toward proficiency in elements of the crosscutting concepts of Patterns (4-PS4-1 and 4-ESS2-2) and Cause and Effect (4-ESS3-1 and 4-ESS3-2). Many other crosscutting concepts elements can be used in instruction. All instruction should be three-dimensional.