Unit Plan 18 (Grade 1 Science): Life Science — Quarter Synthesis

Focus: Synthesize life science learning by explaining how structures help organisms survive, how parent/offspring behaviors form patterns that support survival, and how traits are inherited with variation—then apply ideas through a simple nature-inspired design.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Science (Life Science • Engineering Design • Patterns)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this quarter-synthesis unit, students bring together three big life science ideas: (1) plants and animals have external parts/structures that help them meet needs and survive, (2) parents and offspring show patterns of behavior that help young survive, and (3) young organisms are like their parents but not exactly the same because traits show variation. Students revisit favorite examples through photos, short texts/media clips, and quick observation tasks.

To finish the quarter, students create a Life Science Synthesis Display (three-part “show what you know” page) and a simple Nature-Inspired Tool Plan/Model that mimics a plant or animal structure to solve a human problem. The unit ends with a short Synthesis Share where students explain their learning using evidence from class activities.

Essential Questions

• How do plant and animal structures help them survive and meet their needs?
• What patterns of parent/offspring behaviors help young organisms survive?
• How are young organisms like their parents, and how do traits show variation?
• How can we mimic nature to design a tool that solves a problem?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Describe how an organism’s external parts help it survive (e.g., beaks, claws, fur, stems, leaves) (1-LS1-1).
2. Identify patterns in parent and offspring behaviors that help offspring survive (1-LS1-2).
3. Use observations to explain that young organisms are like their parents but not exactly, showing variation (1-LS3-1).
4. Sketch and/or build a simple nature-inspired design that uses shape to help it work (K-2-ETS1-2).
5. Create a Life Science Synthesis Display + Nature-Inspired Tool using evidence, labels, and key terms.

Standards Alignment — Grade 1 (NGSS-Aligned)

• 1-LS1-1 — Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.
  • Example: Design a simple tool that mimics a hook, claw, beak, or filter.
• 1-LS1-2 — Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.
  • Example: Identify patterns like feeding, protecting, teaching, keeping warm, or warning.
• 1-LS3-1 — Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.
  • Example: Compare traits in a group (color, size, markings) and describe variation.
• K-2-ETS1-2 — Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
  • Example: Sketch/build and label how shape helps the tool work.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can explain how an animal’s or plant’s parts help it survive.
• I can describe a pattern of parent care that helps babies survive.
• I can explain how young are like their parents but show variation in traits.
• I can make a sketch/model of a tool that mimics nature to solve a problem.
• I can share my ideas using labels, evidence, and key words.