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Science, 2010
 
  Grade Level:   9-12  
  EALR 4:   Life Science  
  Big Idea:   Ecosystems (LS2)  
  Core Content:   Maintenance and Stability of Populations                   
  Description:   In prior grades students learned to apply key concepts about ecosystems to understand the interactions among organisms and the nonliving environment. In grades 9-11 students learn about the factors that foster or limit growth of populations within ecosystems and that help to maintain the health of the ecosystem overall. Organisms participate in the cycles of matter and flow of energy to survive and reproduce. Given abundant resources, populations can increase at rapid rates. But living and nonliving factors limit growth, resulting in ecosystems that can remain stable for long periods of time. Understanding the factors that affect populations is important for many societal issues, from decisions about protecting endangered species to questions about how to meet the resource needs of civilization while maintaining the health and sustainability of Earth's ecosystems.  
  Content Standard:   9-11 LS2F The concept of sustainable development supports adoption of policies that enable people to obtain the resources they need today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable processes include substituting renewable for nonrenewable resources, recycling, and using fewer resources.  
 
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Students are expected to:
  		• Explain how scientific concepts and findings relate to a resource issue currently under discussion in the state of Washington (e.g., removal of dams to facilitate salmon spawning in rivers; construction of wind farms). *a,*b,*c.
  		• Explain how the concept of sustainable development may be applied to a current resource issue in the state of Washington.*a,*b,*c.
    Mathematics Connections
  		• *a    A1.8.A    Analyze a problem situation and represent it mathematically.
             7.2.E     Represent proportional relationships using graphs, tables, and equations, and make connections among the representations.
            A1.3.B    Represent a function with a symbolic expression, as a graph, in a table, and using words, and make connections among these representations.
            A1.2.B    Recognize the multiple uses of variables, determine all possible values of variables that satisfy prescribed conditions, and evaluate algebraic expressions that involve variables.
  		• *b    A1.6.B    Make valid inferences and draw conclusions based on data.
           A1.7.D    Solve an equation involving several variables by expressing one variable in terms of the others.
  		• *c    A1.3.B    Represent a function with a symbolic expression, as a graph, in a table, and using words, and make connections among these representations.
           A1.6.B    Make valid inferences and draw conclusions based on data.