HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

HS-LS2-7.	Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of human activities can include urbanization, building dams, and dissemination of invasive species.]

The performance expectation above was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 9–12 builds on K–8 experiences and progresses to explanations and designs that are supported by multiple and independent student-generated sources of evidence consistent with scientific ideas, principles, and theories.

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

Moreover, anthropogenic changes (induced by human activity) in the environment—including habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, overexploitation, and climate change—can disrupt an ecosystem and threaten the survival of some species.

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

When evaluating solutions it is important to take into account a range of constraints including cost, safety, reliability and aesthetics and to consider social, cultural and environmental impacts. (secondary)

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Much of science deals with constructing explanations of how things change and how they remain stable.

Connections to other DCIs in this grade-band:

HS.ESS2.D ; HS.ESS2.E ; HS.ESS3.A ; HS.ESS3.C

Articulation of DCIs across grade-bands:

MS.LS2.C ; MS.ESS3.C ; MS.ESS3.D

Common Core State Standards Connections:

ELA/Literacy -
RST.9-10.8	Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author’s claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem. (HS-LS2-7)
RST.11-12.7	Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem. (HS-LS2-7)
RST.11-12.8	Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information. (HS-LS2-7)
WHST.9-12.7	Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS-LS2-7)
Mathematics -
MP.2	Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.1	Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.2	Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.3	Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on measurement when reporting quantities. (HS-LS2-7)

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

HS-LS2-7.	Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of human activities can include urbanization, building dams, and dissemination of invasive species.]

The performance expectation above was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

When evaluating solutions it is important to take into account a range of constraints including cost, safety, reliability and aesthetics and to consider social, cultural and environmental impacts. (secondary)

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Much of science deals with constructing explanations of how things change and how they remain stable.

Connections to other DCIs in this grade-band:

HS.ESS2.D ; HS.ESS2.E ; HS.ESS3.A ; HS.ESS3.C

Articulation of DCIs across grade-bands:

MS.LS2.C ; MS.ESS3.C ; MS.ESS3.D

Common Core State Standards Connections:

ELA/Literacy -
RST.9-10.8	Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author’s claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem. (HS-LS2-7)
RST.11-12.7	Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem. (HS-LS2-7)
RST.11-12.8	Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information. (HS-LS2-7)
WHST.9-12.7	Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS-LS2-7)
Mathematics -
MP.2	Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.1	Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.2	Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.3	Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on measurement when reporting quantities. (HS-LS2-7)

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

HS-LS2-7.	Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of human activities can include urbanization, building dams, and dissemination of invasive species.]

The performance expectation above was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution to a complex real-world problem, based on scientific knowledge, student-generated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

When evaluating solutions it is important to take into account a range of constraints including cost, safety, reliability and aesthetics and to consider social, cultural and environmental impacts. (secondary)

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Much of science deals with constructing explanations of how things change and how they remain stable.

Connections to other DCIs in this grade-band:

HS.ESS2.D ; HS.ESS2.E ; HS.ESS3.A ; HS.ESS3.C

Articulation of DCIs across grade-bands:

MS.LS2.C ; MS.ESS3.C ; MS.ESS3.D

Common Core State Standards Connections:

ELA/Literacy -
RST.9-10.8	Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author’s claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem. (HS-LS2-7)
RST.11-12.7	Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem. (HS-LS2-7)
RST.11-12.8	Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information. (HS-LS2-7)
WHST.9-12.7	Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. (HS-LS2-7)
Mathematics -
MP.2	Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.1	Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.2	Define appropriate quantities for the purpose of descriptive modeling. (HS-LS2-7)
HSN.Q.A.3	Choose a level of accuracy appropriate to limitations on measurement when reporting quantities. (HS-LS2-7)

* The performance expectations marked with an asterisk integrate traditional science content with engineering through a Practice or Disciplinary Core Idea.

The section entitled “Disciplinary Core Ideas” is reproduced verbatim from A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Cross-Cutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Integrated and reprinted with permission from the National Academy of Sciences.

HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Science and Engineering Practices

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

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