--- title: Lessons for Growth & Development of Organisms | K-8 Grade description: Growth and Development of Organisms Disciplinary Core Ideas 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/) # Growth and Development of Organisms **Disciplinary Core Ideas** [![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 - [Asking questions and defining problems](https://www.knowatom.com/asking-questions-and-defining-problems) - [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 - [Growth and Development of Organisms](https://www.knowatom.com/growth-and-development-of-organisms) - [Inheritance of Traits](https://www.knowatom.com/inheritance-of-traits) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) [![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) ## Lessons for Growth and Development of Organisms Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Parent-and-Offspring-Behaviors-2.jpg) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/parent-and-offspring-behaviors) ## [Parent and Offspring Behaviors In the last unit, students analyzed how engineers can mimic plant and animal structures to solve problems facing people. In this unit, students begin by exploring animal behaviors of parents and offspring that help the offspring survive.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/parent-and-offspring-behaviors) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/1st-grade-science/parent-and-offspring-behaviors) [![](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/image1-Oct-09-2023-07-06-56-1503-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-proteins) ## [DNA and Proteins In this unit, students investigate phenomena related to how organisms pass on traits to their offspring. Students begin, in this lesson, with an investigation into how DNA codes for proteins, which determine an organism’s traits. This page provides a high level overview of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-proteins) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-proteins) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-07-13-15-5068-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/natural-selection) ## [Natural Selection In this unit, students figure out the interconnectedness of genetics, heredity, and evolution. For this lesson, students create an experiment to observe the phenomenon of natural selection determining which organisms are most likely to survive and pass on their traits. This page showcases parts of key components of the lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/natural-selection) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/natural-selection) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(44).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/animal-and-plant-cell-structure-and-function) ## [Animal and Plant Cell Structure and Function In this unit, students focus on the relationship between an organism’s cellular structure and the ability of the organism to access energy to carry out essential life functions. Students begin by examining prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells under the microscope and then compare organelles in plant and animal cells in this lesson. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/animal-and-plant-cell-structure-and-function) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/animal-and-plant-cell-structure-and-function) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(45).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-cell-membrane) ## [The Cell Membrane In this unit, students focus on the organisms that live on Earth’s surface, analyzing how living things are made of cells, which have certain requirements for survival, including food, water, and energy. In this lesson they explore the phenomena of cellular membranes. This page highlights key parts of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-cell-membrane) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/the-cell-membrane) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(48).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/chromosomes-and-mutations) ## [Chromosomes and Mutations In this unit, students analyze phenomena of inheritance in how living things pass along their genes to offspring. Students evaluate the role of DNA and chromosomes in heredity in this lesson. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/chromosomes-and-mutations) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/chromosomes-and-mutations) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(53).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/rocky-shore-ecosystems) ## [Rocky Shore Ecosystems In this unit, students explore the phenomena of rocky shore ecosystems, studying the interactions between living things and the environment. In this lesson they focus on the science phenomena of how organisms interact with one another in an ecosystem. This page showcases key elements from this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/rocky-shore-ecosystems) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/rocky-shore-ecosystems) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(55).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/sea-star-structures) ## [Sea Star Structures In this unit, students focus on the phenomena of rocky shore ecosystems and the science phenomena of how organisms interact. For this lesson, students analyze how adaptations allow for the survival of different organisms, specifically sea star structures. This is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/sea-star-structures) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/sea-star-structures) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(54).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/intertidal-zone-temperature-change) ## [Intertidal Zone Temperature Change In this unit, students explore the interconnectedness of the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem phenomena. In this lesson, they design an experiment to test how heat is transferred in different materials found on the rocky shore. This page provides a brief overview of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/intertidal-zone-temperature-change) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/intertidal-zone-temperature-change) [![](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/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) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-08-2023-08-54-59-8029-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/life-on-earth) ## [Life on Earth In this unit, students explore the phenomena of diversity of life on Earth and consider how living things pass on traits to their offspring while also adapting to meet the needs of the environment. In this lesson, students figure out how scientists use the fossil record for clues to how life has evolved over time. This page highlights key parts of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/life-on-earth) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/life-on-earth) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-08-54-58-0486-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/inheritance-and-variation-of-traits) ## [Inheritance and Variation of Traits In this lesson, students figure out similarities among the phenomena of cells, specifically the phenomena of inheritance and variation of traits. This page shows key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/inheritance-and-variation-of-traits) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/inheritance-and-variation-of-traits) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-08-2023-08-54-59-8029-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/reproduction-and-fungi-structures) ## [Reproduction and Fungi Structures In this unit, students explore how life has changed and become more diverse over time. In this lesson, students dissect fungi to figure out how they reproduce. This page highlights components of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/reproduction-and-fungi-structures) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/reproduction-and-fungi-structures) 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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