Table 6.

Alignment between the NRC framework and NRC standards for middle school life sciences^a

Grades 5–8	Framework	Related NRC standards
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes	LS1.A: Structure and Function	M.I.A, M.I.B, M.I.D, M.I.E, M.III.A
	LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms	M.II.A, M.II.E, M.III.C
	LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow is Organisms	M.I.C, M.IV.C
	LS1.D: Information Processing	M.III.C
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics	LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems	M.I.F, M.III.B, M.IV.A, M.IV.D
	LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems	M.IV.B
	LS2.C: Ecosystems Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience	M.IV.D
	LS2.D: Social Interactions and Group Behavior	M.III.D
LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits	LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits	M.II.C, M.II.D
	LS3.B: Variation of Traits	M.II.B
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity	LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity	M.III.B, M.V.A, M.V.C
	LS4.B: Natural Selection	M.V.B
	LS4.C: Adaptation	M.V.A, M.V.B
	LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans	M.V.A

^aThe NRC standards are organized as follows: “M” stands for 5–8 life sciences standards; the following roman numeral represents the “broad area of content” or major content theme; and the capital letter indicates the bulleted statement within the major content theme. For example, M.I.B refers to the second bulleted statement of the first major content theme of 5–8 life sciences: “All organisms are composed of cells…” (NRC, 1996, p. 156).