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A. Human Identity
By the end of 8th grade, students should know that:
- Like other animals, human beings have body systems for obtaining and providing energy, defense, reproduction, and the coordination of body functions.
- Human beings have many similarities and differences.
- Fossil evidence is consistent with the idea that human beings evolved from earlier species.
- Specialized roles of individuals within other species are genetically programmed, whereas human beings are able to invent and modify a wider range of social behavior.
- Human beings use technology to match or excel many of the abilities of other species.
- Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population.
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B. Human Development
By the end of 8th grade, students should know that:
- Fertilization occurs when sperm cells from a male's testes are deposited near an egg cell from the female ovary, and one of the sperm cells enters the egg cell.
- Contraception measures may incapacitate sperm, block their way to the egg, prevent the release of eggs, or prevent the fertilized egg from implanting successfully.
- Following fertilization, cell division produces a small cluster of cells that then differentiate by appearance and function to form the basic tissues of an embryo.
- The developing embryo and later the newborn infant encounters many risks from faults in its genes, its mother's inadequate diet, her cigarette smoking or use of alcohol or other drugs, or from infection.
- Various body changes occur as adults age.
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C. Basic Functions
By the end of 8th grade, students should know that:
- Organs and organ systems are composed of cells and help to provide all cells with basic needs.
- For the body to use food for energy and building materials, the food must first be digested into molecules that are absorbed and transported to cells.
- To burn food for the release of energy stored in it, oxygen must be supplied to cells, and carbon dioxide removed.
- Specialized cells and the molecules they produce identify and destroy microbes that get inside the body.
- Hormones are chemicals from glands that affect other body parts.
- Interactions among the senses, nerves, and brain make possible the learning that enables human beings to cope with changes in their environment.
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D. Learning
By the end of 8th grade, students should know that:
- Some animal species are limited to a repertoire of genetically determined behaviors; others have more complex brains and can learn a wide variety of behaviors.
- The level of skill a person can reach in any particular activity depends on innate abilities, the amount of practice, and the use of appropriate learning technologies.
- Human beings can detect a tremendous range of visual and olfactory stimuli.
- Attending closely to any one input of information usually reduces the ability to attend to others at the same time.
- Learning often results from two perceptions or actions occurring at about the same time.
- Language and tools enable human beings to learn complicated and varied things from others.
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E. Physical Health
By the end of 8th grade, students should know that:
- The amount of food energy (calories) a person requires varies with body weight, age, sex, activity level, and natural body efficiency.
- Toxic substances, some dietary habits, and personal behavior may be bad for one's health.
- Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites may infect the human body and interfere with normal body functions.
- White blood cells engulf invaders or produce antibodies that attack them or mark them for killing by other white cells.
- The environment may contain dangerous levels of substances that are harmful to human beings.
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F. Mental Health
By the end of 8th grade, students should know that:
- Individuals differ greatly in their ability to cope with stressful situations.
- Often people react to mental distress by denying that they have any problem.
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