Life Sciences
What to Know
Grade 5 life science emphasizes how organisms obtain and use energy, how structures support survival, and how living things interact in ecosystems. You should understand that plants use sunlight to make food and that animals get energy by eating plants or other animals. Be able to explain how structures such as roots, leaves, beaks, and teeth match an organism's needs. Know that organisms depend on one another and on their environment, and that changes to a habitat affect the organisms living there. Understand that organisms have traits inherited from parents and that environments can influence which traits help an organism survive.
Traps to Watch
A frequent trap is thinking plants get their food from soil; they make food using sunlight, water, and air. Another is assuming all organisms in a food chain are equally affected by a change; removing one link can ripple through the chain. Watch for questions that confuse inherited traits with learned behaviors. Also be careful with questions about structure and function; match the structure to the job it performs.
Worked Example
A bird has a long, thin beak. Rule of thumb: match the structure to the function. A long, thin beak helps the bird reach nectar deep in flowers. If those flowers disappear, the bird may struggle to find food, showing how organisms depend on their environment.
Rule of Thumb
Trace energy through a food chain from the sun to plants to animals.