'Big Idea'	Grades K-2	Grades 3-4	Grades 5-8	Grades 9-12
1. Organisms have basic needs.	A1, A2	B1, B4	A3,B1,B2,B4	A3, B2,B3,C1,C3
2. Organisms have different characteristics that enable them to meet their basic needs.	A2	A1, A3	A1, A2, A3	A1, A3
3. If something is living, it is capable of carrying out life processes.	A1, A3			A3
4. There are different ways to classify. Schemes may vary with purpose.	A4	A1, A2	A1	A1
5. Classification systems are hierarchal frameworks created by biologists for describing the vast diversity of life and how organisms are related.		A2	A1, A2	A1, A2
6. Certain characteristics of organisms differentiate them from other organisms.	A2, A3	A1	A1, A2	A2
7. The different features of organisms allow a diversity of life to survive in different environments.		A3	A3	A3
8. Patterns of similarity permeate the living world.	A2, A3	A1	A1, A2, A3	A1, A2, A3
Local Assessment Benchmarks	A2 & A4	A1	A3	A3

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