SC.6.L.14.1

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Describe and identify patterns in the hierarchical organization of organisms from atoms to molecules and cells to tissues to organs to organ systems to organisms.
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 6
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Idea: Level 1: Recall
Big Idea: Organization and Development of Living Organisms -

A. All living things share certain characteristics.

B. The scientific theory of cells, also called cell theory, is a fundamental organizing principle of life on Earth.

C. Life can be organized in a functional and structural hierarchy.

D. Life is maintained by various physiological functions essential for growth, reproduction, and homeostasis.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 1: Recall - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications
  • Item Type(s): This benchmark may be assessed using: MC item(s)

  • Clarification :
    Students will identify and/or describe patterns in the hierarchical organization of organisms, from atoms to molecules, to cells, to tissues, to organs, to organ systems, to organisms.
  • Content Limits :
    Items will not assess cell specialization.

    Items may use the terms for the types of tissues in animals (epithelial, muscle, nervous, connective) but will not assess knowledge of the structure or function of these types of tissues.
  • Stimulus Attributes :
    Scenarios referring to atoms and molecules are limited to biotic contexts.
  • Response Attributes :
    None specified
  • Prior Knowledge :
    This benchmark grouping is foundational. These concepts have not been introduced in the NGSSS prior to this grade-level grouping.
Sample Test Items (1)
  • Test Item #: Sample Item 1
  • Question: Structures in the human body work together to perform specific functions. The diagram below shows the organization of structures found in the human body.
    a picture of which of the following structures belongs in the box above?
  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: MC: Multiple Choice

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2002040: M/J Comprehensive Science 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (current), 2022 and beyond)
2002050: M/J Comprehensive Science 1, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (current), 2022 and beyond)
2000010: M/J Life Science (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (current), 2022 and beyond)
2000020: M/J Life Science, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (current), 2022 and beyond)
7820015: Access M/J Comprehensive Science 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 and beyond (current))
2002055: M/J Comprehensive Science 1 Accelerated Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (current), 2022 and beyond)

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SC.6.L.14.In.1: Identify how the major structures of plants and organs of animals work as parts of larger systems, such as the heart is part of the circulatory system that pumps blood.
SC.6.L.14.Su.1: Identify the major internal organs of animals and external structures of plants and their functions.
SC.6.L.14.Pa.1: Recognize that the human body is made up of various parts.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Life is a Hierarchy :

Through a variety of hands-on and visual manipulatives, students will discover the building process from a single atom to a complete, independently functioning organism. Students will start with the smallest component and work their way up to the largest and most complex.

Type: Lesson Plan

Life Exposed:

STEM-u-lating science! What are living things composed of? Students will dig deeper into the building blocks of life by researching, designing, and creating a layered transparency book.

Type: Lesson Plan

We are a good fit:

This lesson helps guide the student in understanding the relationship from atoms to molecules and cells to tissues to organs to organ systems to organisms. It is an introduction to the concept that all living things share certain characteristics.

Type: Lesson Plan

Check Out The Chicken Wing!:

Students will examine a chicken wing to discover the different tissues and organs that make it up. They will relate this to the concept that cells make up tissues, which make up organs, which make up organ systems in the organism.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Levels of Organization:

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.

You should be able to describe the hierarchical organization of living things from the atom, to the molecule, to the cell, to the tissue, to the organ, to the organ system, and to the organism.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Video/Audio/Animation

Coffee to Carbon:

This site explores the relationship of the size of the cell and many other common objects, molecules, and atoms. It is an interactive website that shows the scale of the objects in relations to each other. 

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8

Levels of Organization:

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.

You should be able to describe the hierarchical organization of living things from the atom, to the molecule, to the cell, to the tissue, to the organ, to the organ system, and to the organism.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Levels of Organization:

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.

You should be able to describe the hierarchical organization of living things from the atom, to the molecule, to the cell, to the tissue, to the organ, to the organ system, and to the organism.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Video/Audio/Animation

Coffee to Carbon:

This site explores the relationship of the size of the cell and many other common objects, molecules, and atoms. It is an interactive website that shows the scale of the objects in relations to each other. 

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.