--- title: 4.1.1 description: 4.1.1 Construct an explanation from evidence that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # 4.1.1 Construct an explanation from evidence that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer](https://www.knowatom.com/conservation-of-energy-and-energy-transfer) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse 4.1.1 Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-12-00-33-1835-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) ## [Energy from the Sun In this unit, students are introduced to the interdependence of living things and their environment as they analyze how individual organisms are suited to their particular environment, but all organisms require energy and nutrients to survive.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/energy-from-the-sun) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-07-26-37-4633-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/frog-life-cycle) ## [Frog Life Cycle In this unit, students explore how living things depend on their environment and one another for survival. In this lesson, students discover phenomena surrounding how frogs have different internal and external structures throughout their life cycle that enable them to survive in their environments. This page highlights components of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/frog-life-cycle) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/frog-life-cycle) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Mealworm-Senses11.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/mealworm-senses) ## [Mealworm Senses In this unit, students focus on the science phenomena of sensory structures that allow animals to process information from the environment, and then use that information to influence their behaviors. This page showcases key components of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/mealworm-senses) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/mealworm-senses) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Selecting-Traits.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/selecting-traits) ## [Selecting Traits In this lesson, students explore the phenomena of senses to uncover how certain traits give individual organisms a survival advantage. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.  ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/selecting-traits) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/selecting-traits) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image2-Oct-07-2023-03-20-03-7546-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/plant-structures) ## [Plant Structures In this unit, students analyze how living things have specific structures that allow them to function in different environments. They trace how energy flows through a tropical wetland food web, and then test how temperature affects a plant’s ability to transpire through its leaves, affecting its ability to grow. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson on plant structures. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/plant-structures) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/4th-grade-science/plant-structures) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-07-2023-12-20-18-3990-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/life-cycles) ## [Life Cycles In this unit, students focus on individual organisms, analyzing the science phenomena of life cycles and the inheritance of traits. This lesson has students observing the patterns caused by the changes an organism goes through as it moves through its life cycle. This page is a high-level extract from the first lesson in this unit.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/life-cycles) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/life-cycles) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-07-2023-12-29-08-9517-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heredity-and-traits) ## [Heredity and Traits In this unit, students discover the life cycles of different organisms, tracing how individuals move from birth to growth, reproduction, and death. In this lesson, students analyze the science phenomena of how traits are passed down from parent to offspring. This page provides an overview of all the parts of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heredity-and-traits) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/3rd-grade-science/heredity-and-traits) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-08-2023-12-34-51-8368-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth-and-acid-rain) ## [Plant Growth and Acid Rain In this unit, students focus on how environmental changes impact the ability of organisms to survive, grow, and reproduce, passing their traits on to future generations. In this lesson, students continue their analysis of how a plant’s structures allow it to grow and develop, focusing on how a change in the environment such as pollution can impact a plant’s ability to complete its life cycle. Specifically, students investigate how acid rain affects the external structures of aquatic plants. This page provides an overview of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth-and-acid-rain) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/5th-grade-science/plant-growth-and-acid-rain) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 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