Content Standard: D. Continuity and Change :
Students will understand the basis for all life and that all living things change over time. 
Common Assessment (s)

Performance Indicators The student will be able to:	Essential Elements (Specific grade level learning objectives)			Suggested Performance Activities	Suggested Classroom Assessments	Vocabulary * Indicates a word the teacher uses to help students start to understand
1. Explain how fossils show the existence of past life.	Describe and Explain Extinct Fossil Dinosaur			Hands on observation and discussion of fossils in the classroom. Make a model of a fossil. Resources-Grade 2 Science, McGraw-Hill: Clues From The Past Chapter 3	Explain how the model shows the existence of past life.	Alike Change Characteristic Chart Compare Danger Diagram Different Draw/illustrate Environment Enemies *Imprint Lifetime Observe Organism Pictorial Predators Predict Predictable Protect Representation Safe *Sequential order *Species Survive
2. Identify characteristics that help organisms live in their environment.	Describe how animals use Camouflage Habitat Traits/characteristics Shell Quills Odor Environment Climate Predators			Students will examine organisms and identify specific characteristics that help them survive in their environment. Resources-Grade 2 Science, McGraw-Hill: Water and Plants Chapters 1, 2; Rocky Homes Chapters 9, 10	Students will be able to identify (oral / written / draw) and explain how a characteristic of an organism helps the organism survive in its environment. Resources: 2A-2, B-1, C-2 can also be used to assess this activity.
3. Draw or describe ways in which an organism can change over its lifetime, sometimes in predictable ways (e.g., butterfly, frog).	Identify (Life Cycle) of an organism (e.g., egg, mealworm, pupa, beetle) Describe Metamorphous Stages of some creature			Students will examine several organisms (plants and mealworms) and discuss changes that occur. Students will make a pictorial representation of the changes of an organism.	Given a specific species, students will explain how the organism changes over time. Resource: 2A-3 can also be used to assess this activity.
4. Describe ways in which individuals of the same species are alike and different.	Compare/contrast two people			Students will make observations (for example: view photos) of organisms discussing and/or illustrating differences.	Students will compare and contrast (diagram / written / oral) several traits of the same species.