Object Lessons® Investigating Insects
National Science Education Standards Correlation: Grades 5-8

Science as Inquiry

Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation.

Investigation 3, 4, 5

Design and conduct a scientific investigation.

Investigation 2, 4, 6

Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.

Investigation 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence.

Investigation 1, 3, 4, 5

Think critically and logically to make the relationships between evidence and explanations.

Investigation 1, 2, 3, 5

Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions.

Investigation 5

Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.

Investigation 3, 4, 6

Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry.

Investigation 3, 4

Life Science

Structure and function of living systems

Living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function.

Investigation 2, 3, 4

Reproduction and heredity

Reproduction is a characteristic of all living systems. Reproduction is essential to the continuation of every species.

Investigation 3

Regulation and behavior

All organisms must be able to obtain and use resources, grow, reproduce, and maintain stable internal conditions while living in a constantly changing external environment.

Investigation 3, 4

Behavior is one kind of response an organism can make to an internal or environmental stimulus.

Investigation 3, 4

Diversity and adaptations of organisms

Although different species might look dissimilar, the unity among organisms becomes apparent from an analysis of internal structures, the similarity of their chemical processes, and the evidence of common ancestry.

Investigation 1, 2

Biological adaptations include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhances survival and reproductive success in a particular environment.

Investigation 2, 3

History and Nature of Science

Science as a human endeavor

The work of science relies on basic human qualities such as reasoning, insight, energy, skill, and creativity.

Investigation 5

History of science

Many individuals have contributed to the traditions of science.

Investigation 5

Unifying Concepts and Processes

Systems, order, and organization

A system is an organized group of related objects or components that form a whole.

Investigation 1, 2, 3, 4

Evidence, models, and explanation

Evidence consists of observations and data on which to base scientific explanations.

Investigation 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Models are tentative schemes or structures that correspond to real objects, events, or classes of events, that have explanatory power.

Investigation 2, 3

Scientific explanations incorporate existing scientific knowledge and new evidence from observations, experiments, or models into internally consistent, logical statements.

Investigation 2, 3, 4, 6

Form and function

Form and function are complementary aspects of objects, organisms, and systems in the natural and designed world.

Investigation 2, 3, 4