Texas Science Standards

   Grade 5

(5.5) Science concepts. The student knows that a system is a collection of cycles, structures, and processes that interact. The student is expected to: 

 A. describe some cycles, structures, and processes that are found in a simple system; and 

NatureWorks Episodes

5. Habitat
6. Marine Communities
7. Fresh Water Communities
8. Terrestrial Communities
9. The Wildlife Web I 
10. The Wildlife  Web II
11. Decomposers and Scavengers
12. Population Dynamics

 B. describe some interactions that occur in a simple system.

NatureWorks Episodes

5. Habitat
6. Marine Communities
7. Fresh Water Communities
8. Terrestrial Communities
9. The Wildlife Web I 
10. The Wildlife  Web II
11. Decomposers and Scavengers
12. Population Dynamics
14. Niche

 (5.6) Science concepts. The student knows that some change occurs in cycles. The student is expected to: 

A. identify events and describe changes that occur on a regular basis such as in daily, weekly, lunar, and seasonal cycles; 

B. identify the significance of the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles; and 

NatureWorks Episodes

9. The Wildlife Web I 

C. describe and compare life cycles of plants and animals.

(5.9) Science concepts. The student knows that adaptations may increase the survival of members of a species. The student is expected to: 

A. compare the adaptive characteristics of species that improve their ability to survive and reproduce in an ecosystem; 

NatureWorks Episodes

1. Adaptation
2. Coloration
3. Natural Communication
4. Migration

B. analyze and describe adaptive characteristics that result in an organism's unique niche in an ecosystem; 

NatureWorks Episodes

1. Adaptation
2. Coloration
3. Natural Communication
4. Migration
14. Niche

D. predict some adaptive characteristics required for survival and reproduction by an organism in an ecosystem.

NatureWorks Episodes

1. Adaptation
2. Coloration
3. Natural Communication
4. Migration

   Grade 6

(6.8) Science concepts. The student knows that complex interactions occur between matter and energy. The student is expected to: 

A. define matter and energy; 

B. explain and illustrate the interactions between matter and energy in the water cycle and in the decay of biomass such as in a compost bin; and 

C. describe energy flow in living systems including food chains and food webs.

NatureWorks Episodes

9. The Wildlife Web I 

(6.9) Science concepts. The student knows that obtaining, transforming, and distributing energy affects the environment. The student is expected to: 

A. identify energy transformations occurring during the production of energy for human use such as electrical energy to heat energy or heat energy to electrical
energy; 

B. compare methods used for transforming energy in devices such as water heaters, cooling systems, or hydroelectric and wind power plants; and 

C. research and describe energy types from their source to their use and determine if the type is renewable, non-renewable, or inexhaustible.

(6.10) Science concepts. The student knows the relationship between structure and function in living systems. The student is expected to: 

A. differentiate between structure and function; 

NatureWorks Episodes

1. Adaptation
2. Coloration
3. Natural Communication
4. Migration

B. determine that all organisms are composed of cells that carry on functions to sustain life; and 

C. identify how structure complements function at different levels of organization including organs, organ systems, organisms, and populations.

 (6.11) Science concepts. The student knows that traits of species can change through generations and that the instructions for traits are contained in the genetic
material of the organisms. The student is expected to: 

A. identify some changes in traits that can occur over several generations through natural occurrence and selective breeding;

NatureWorks Episodes

1. Adaptation
2. Coloration
3. Natural Communication
4. Migration

B. identify cells as structures containing genetic material; and 

C. interpret the role of genes in inheritance.

(6.12) Science concepts. The student knows that the responses of organisms are caused by internal or external stimuli. The student is expected to: 

A. identify responses in organisms to internal stimuli such as hunger or thirst; 

B. identify responses in organisms to external stimuli such as the presence or absence of heat or light; and 

C. identify components of an ecosystem to which organisms may respond.

NatureWorks Episodes

5. Habitat
6. Marine Communities
7. Fresh Water Communities
8. Terrestrial Communities