NGSS 1st Grade

Next Generation Science Standards
LS1, LS3

Though The Drawing Zoo was founded with the mission of sharing respect for animals as well as reinforce traditional art practices, one cannot help but notice the relevance to science courses.
Animal care requires The Drawing Zoo team to understand much about our animals' bodies, natural environment, how they age, diet etc.  Inevitably we discuss these aspects in class. And now, we are aligning these tendencies with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Requirement:
Disciplinary Core Ideas LS1.A: Structure and Function  All organisms have external parts. Different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water and air. Plants also have different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow. (1-LS1-1) 
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms  Adult plants and animals can have young. In many kinds of animals, parents and the offspring themselves engage in behaviors that help the offspring to survive. (1-LS1-2) 
LS1.D: Information Processing  Animals have body parts that capture and convey different kinds of information needed for growth and survival. Animals respond to these inputs with behaviors that help them survive. Plants also respond to some external inputs. (1-LS1-1)

How does The Drawing Zoo meet this requirement?

We bring a live iguana and corresponding skeleton.
The students will draw and label each body part as well as have the opportunity to touch and observe how he uses these external parts to survive in nature.
Toes, claws, color, dewlap, third eye, the "break points" in the tail. Body language.

Requirement:
Disciplinary Core Ideas LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits  Young animals are very much, but not exactly like, their parents. Plants also are very much, but not exactly, like their parents. (1- LS3-1) LS3.B: Variation of Traits  Individuals of the same kind of plant or animal are recognizable as similar but can also vary in many ways. (1-LS3-1)

How does The Drawing Zoo meet this requirement?

We bring in the parents, offspring and eggs of Maryland's native Black Rat Snake.
The students draw and label the similarities and differences of the three animals.
Young animals are like, but not exactly the same as, their parents:
The mother is albino but the genes are recessive. The offspring carries those genes but displays the phenotypes of the normal father because those are the best suited for survival.
Hatchlings display a different behavior, color and pattern for camouflage.

"Students are [also] expected to develop understanding of how plants and animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs as well as how behaviors of parents and offspring help the offspring survive. The understanding is developed that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly the same as, their parents."
http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/1%20combined%20DCI%20standards%206.13.13.pdf