Biological Sciences Program 2015 YEAR 7

Vocabulary These terms are important in conveying your understanding in the Biological Sciences
animal
genus
phylum
abiotic factors
carnivore
ecosystem
habitat
predator

classification
invertebrates
plant
adaptations
commensalism
endangered species
herbivore
prey

Content Description

Week

Classification

There are differences within

and between groups of
organisms; classification
helps organise this diversity
(ACSSU111)
Considering the reasons for
classifying such as identification
and communication
Grouping a variety of organisms on
the basis of similarities and
differences in particular features
Classifying using hierarchical
systems such as kingdom, phylum,
class, order, family, genus, species
Using scientific conventions for
naming species
Considering how biological
classifications have changed over
time
Using provided keys to identify
organisms surveyed in a local
habitat

dichotomous key
kingdom
protisa
biome
competition
extinct
mutualism
producer

family
monera
species
biosphere
consumer
food chain
omnivore
sustainable ecosystem

Teaching Plan
Biological Sciences Classification
Classification of Living Things
On completion of this section you should be able to describe why we need to classify
living things, classify living things into kingdoms and recall the classification system
beyond kingdom through to species.

1
&
2

1. Understand why we classify things and how classification makes our

understanding of the world better.
2. Classifying objects as living or non-living using characteristics that are
associated with living things (MRS GREN)
3. Recall what is a classification key and how do we use classification keys?
4. Create a simple dichotomous key.
5. Review the basic features of the members of:
- The Animal Kingdom
- The Plant Kingdom
- The Fungi Kingdom
- The Protist Kingdom
- The Monera Kingdom
6. Practice classifying living things under these kingdoms.
7. Extend the classification system beyond kingdoms to define phylum,
class, order, family, genus and species

fungi
order
vertebrates
biotic features
decomposer
food web
parasitism
symbiosis

References/
Resources
Week1
Pearson Science 7
Ch 6.1 pp 196-204
Chapter review Qu1-11
page202

Week2
Pearson Science 7
Ch 6.2 pp 205-25
Chapter review Qu1-12
page213
Practicals
PS7 p204 Sorting Leaves
Class Kay
PS7 p215 Pictorial Key

Homework &
Assessment
Week1
Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
6.1 Similar and
different
6.2 I know what it
is.
Week2
Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
6.3 Creating the
key
6.4 Whats in a
name?.

Content Description

Teaching Plan
Biological Sciences Classification

Week

Animal Kingdom

Plant Kingdom

Animal Kingdom

There are differences within

and between groups of
organisms; classification
helps organise this diversity
(ACSSU111)
Considering the reasons for
classifying such as identification
and communication
Grouping a variety of organisms on
the basis of similarities and
differences in particular features
Classifying using hierarchical
systems such as kingdom, phylum,
class, order, family, genus, species
Using scientific conventions for
naming species
Considering how biological
classifications have changed over
time
Using provided keys to identify
organisms surveyed in a local
habitat

On completion of this section you should be able to describe the characteristics that
define the animal kingdom and identify examples of invertebrate classes and
vertebrate groups.

3
&
4

8. Identify the characteristics of the animal kingdom.

9. Distinguish between vertebrate and invertebrate animals and identify
simple classes of invertebrates such as Poriferans, Cnidarians, Molluscs,
Echinoderms, Annelids, Platyhelmiths, Nematodes and Arthropods.
10. Create biological drawings of a variety of live and preserved invertebrate
animals.
11. Understand that vertebrates have a backbone and are divided into 5
and outline the main groups: Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Fish and
Amphibians.

References/
Resources
Pearson Science 7
Ch 6.3 pp216-229
Chapter review Qu 1-6
page227
Practicals
PS7 p100 Water cycle
Spice: Soils
Waste Wise: Compost

Homework &
Assessment
Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
6.5 Naming living
things
6.6 Arthropods
Classification
Topic Test Week
3

Plant Kingdom
On completion of this section you should be able to describe the characteristics that
identify the plant kingdom.

12. Use a plant classification key to distinguish between mosses, conifers,

ferns and flowering plants.
13. Use a magnifying glass to examine examples of spores and seeds.
14. Create biological drawings of a variety of live and preserved plant
samples.

Pearson Science 7
Ch 6.4 pp 230-240
Chapter review Qu 1-9
page238
Practicals
PS7 p229 Classifying
Plants

Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
6.8 Literacy
Review
Classification
Poster Week 5

Content Description

Week

Teaching Plan
Biological Sciences Ecosystem
Food Chains
On completion of this section you should be able to describe that the energy in
food chains comes from the sun and distinguish between producers and
consumers.

Food Chains & Food Webs

Interactions between organisms

can be described in terms of
food chains and food webs;
human activity can affect these
interactions (ACSSU112)
Using food chains to show feeding
relationships in a habitat
Classifying organisms of an
environment according to their position
in a food chain
Constructing and interpreting food
webs to show relationships between
organisms in an environment
Recognising the role of microorganisms
within food chains and food webs
Exploring how living things can cause
changes to their environment and
impact other living things, such as the
effect of cane toads
Investigating the effect of human
activity on local habitats, such as
deforestation, agriculture or the
introduction of new species

Decomposers

6
&
7

Researching specific examples of

human activity, such as the use of fire
by traditional Aboriginal people and the
effects of palm oil harvesting in
Sumatra and Borneo

15. Derive the fact that all the energy in the food we eat comes from plants
and therefore ultimately from the Sun.
16. Identify food chains in a variety of ecosystems.
17. Define the terms herbivore, carnivore and omnivore in terms of their
place on the food chain.

References/
Resources
Week 6 & 7
Pearson Science 7
Ch 5.2 pp 172-178
Chapter review Qu 1-12
Page176
Practicals
PS7 p229 Classifying
Plants
Spice: Feeding relationship
Ecosystem in a Bottle

Food Web
On completion of this section you should be able to extend the concept of a food
chain to a food web and identify food webs in different habitats.

Homework &
Assessment
Week6
Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
5.1 Different living
spaces
5.2 Daily changes
Week7
Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
5.6 Food Chains
5.7 Food Webs.

18. Examine the concept food webs.

19. Define the terms producers and consumers and identify where they fit
into the food web.
20. Look at the role of scavengers and parasites and discus their place in
the food web.
21. What is an ecosystem and how do food webs fit in to the ecosystem.

Decomposers
On completion of this section you should be able to describe the role
decomposers play in the food web.

22. Explain what decomposers are and relate them back to the kingdoms
discuss previously.
23. How do decomposers fin into the food web and what is their role in the
circle of life.

Pearson Science 7
Ch 5.1 pp 162-171
Chapter review Qu 1-10
Page169
Practicals
Spice: Soils
Waste Wise: Compost
Waste Wise: Worms

Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
5.4 Living together
5.5 Leeches
Investigation
Test Week 8

Interactions in an Ecosystem

Content Description

Week

Interactions between organisms

can be described in terms of
food chains and food webs;
human activity can affect these
interactions (ACSSU112)
Using food chains to show feeding
relationships in a habitat
Classifying organisms of an environment
according to their position in a food chain
Constructing and interpreting food webs to
show relationships between organisms in an
environment
Recognising the role of microorganisms
within food chains and food webs
Exploring how living things can cause
changes to their environment and impact
other living things, such as the effect of
cane toads
Investigating the effect of human activity on
local habitats, such as deforestation,
agriculture or the introduction of new
species

Teaching Plan

Biological Sciences Ecosystem

Imbalances and the Human Impact on Ecosystems
On completion of this section you should be able to describe an ecosystem and
how humans have impacted on them.

9
&
10

24. Look at example of imbalances in ecosystems caused by removing part

of the food chain or habitat.
25. Examine how humans have affected ecosystems around the world.
26. Research specific examples of human impact on the ecosystem such
as the crown of thorns starfish, the harvesting of palm oil in Borneo,
Coltan mining in Africa and Australian introduced species e.g. cane
toads, rabbits, foxes and cats.

References/
Resources

Homework &
Assessment

Pearson Science 7
Ch 5.3 pp 179-189
Chapter review Qu 1-6
Page169

Week9
Pearson Science
7
Homework Book
5.9 Human
Impacts
in Antarctica

Student Research
Booklets:
Human Impact on the
Ecosystem
Week10
Practicals
Spice: Feeding relationship
Spice: Human Impact on the
Amazon
Jane Goodall Foundation:
Great Apes, Coltan and
mobile phones

Researching specific examples of human

activity, such as the use of fire by traditional
Aboriginal people and the effects of palm oil
harvesting in Sumatra and Borneo

Oral
Presentation

Assessment Structure

Assessment Type

Task Description

Week

Semester Task Weighting

Test

Classification Test

Semester 2

15%

Assignment

Classification Poster

Semester 2

10%

Investigation Test

Food Web Test

Semester 2

15%

Oral Presentation

Case Study
Oral Presentation (2 minute)

10

Semester 2

10%

Homework mark

Homework tasks

ongoing

Semester 2

2.5%

Workbook mark

Maintaining a satisfactory workbook

ongoing

Semester 2

2.5%