To Understand the Nature of Benchmarks, Option B:
Case Study of Flow-of-Matter benchmark
 

Estimated Time: 90 minutes.

Overview: Participants learn how a particular benchmark contributes to building student understanding of a topic; how other benchmarks on that topic are interrelated, both conceptually and developmentally; and what research reveals about student learning of the topic.

Benchmark 5E Flow of Matter and Energy (6-8) #1
Food provides molecules that serve as fuel and building material for all organisms. Plants use the energy from light to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water. This food can be used immediately or stored for later use. Organisms that eat plants break down the plant structures to produce the materials and energy they need to survive. Then they are consumed by other organisms. Participants study the benchmark and selected sections of SFAA and Benchmarks that are relevant to understanding what it is expecting students to know about the topic:

• the relevant section of SFAA
• the K-12 benchmarks in that section of Benchmarks
• the introductory and grade level essays in that section
• the Flow of Matter in Ecosystems strand map from Benchmarks on Disk
• relevant research from Benchmarks, Chapter 15: The Research Base.

This option is appropriate for groups that include middle- and high-school teachers who teach the topic. The strand map shows the importance of precursor benchmarks to this benchmark.
 

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