Lesson 1: Levels of Organization
Duration of Days: 3
Lesson Objective
1. Students will explore and model how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells, with the understanding that cells are organized into tissues, organs, and organ systems to work together to carry out specific tasks in multicellular organisms.
1. How does the organization of cells support life functions in multicellular organisms?
cell differentiation
tissue
organ
organ system
muscle
joint
ligament
hydrostatic skeleton
exoskeleton
cardiac muscle
smooth muscle
Calorie
nutrient
digestion
mechanical digestion
chemical digestion
esophagus
peristalsis
villus
excretory system
photosynthesis
vascular tissue
xylem
phloem
stoma
pharynx
trachea
bronchi
lungs
diaphragm
alveoli
atria
ventricles
artery
vein
capillary
open circulatory system
closed circulatory
system
nervous system
neuron
central nervous system
spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
sensory system
receptor
MS-LS1-3
Analyzing how cells, tissues, organs, and systems work together
Interpreting diagrams and models of organizational levels
Explaining cause-and-effect relationships within organisms
Using evidence to support explanations of structure and function
Applying academic science vocabulary in context
Students explore how living things are organized from cells to organisms.
To help students understand how different levels of organization work together to support life.
DOK 2 (Skills & Concepts)
Comparing cells, tissues, organs, and systems to community roles (e.g., teams, schools, neighborhoods)
Observing how body systems work together in sports or daily activities
Connecting plant structures (cells ? tissues ? organs) to community gardens or local green spaces
Relating teamwork and cooperation to organizational levels in living things
Cells function independently rather than as part of a system
Tissues and organs are all the same and have no special roles
Only animals have multiple levels of organization
Structures in an organism don’t depend on each other
Higher-level functions (organs/systems) don’t start with cells
Use visual models and diagrams of organizational levels
Provide sentence frames for explanations
Use graphic organizers to show hierarchy (cell ? tissue ? organ ? system ? organism)
Pair students for discussion or hands-on activities
Connect examples to familiar human, animal, and plant systems
Highlight key vocabulary and chunk content for reading support
Formative Assessment