Clarification Statement - S.5.LS.2.1.CS:
Emphasis is on the flow of energy and cycling of matter in systems such as organisms, ecosystems, and/or Earth.

Assessment Boundary - S.5.LS.2.1.AB:
Assessment does not include molecular explanations.

Science and Engineering Practices - 3-5.SEP2.1:
Develop models to describe phenomena

Disciplinary Core Ideas - S.5.LS.2.1.DCI:
LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems •The food of almost any kind of animal can be traced back to plants. Organisms are related in food webs in which some animals eat plants for food and other animals eat the animals that eat plants. Some organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead organisms (both plants or plants parts and animals) and therefore operate as “decomposers.” Decomposition eventually restores (recycles) some materials back to the soil. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their particular needs are met. A healthy ecosystem is one in which multiple species of different types are each able to meet their needs in a relatively stable web of life. Newly introduced species can damage the balance of an ecosystem. LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems •Matter cycles between the air and soil and among plants, animals, and microbes as these organisms live and die. Organisms obtain gases, and water, from the environment, and release waste matter (gas, liquid, or solid) back into the environment.

Crosscutting Concepts - CC3.2:
A system can be described in terms of its components and their interactions.