National Standards

 Language Arts Standards 
Writing 4. 
                   Gathers and uses information for research  purpose 
Reading 5. 
                       Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading  process; 
                7. 
Uses reading skills and strategies to  understand and interpret a variety of informational text 

  Listening and Speaking 8.  
 Uses listening and speaking strategies for different
  purposes; 

 Viewing 9.   
  Uses viewing skills and strategies understand and
  interpret visual media  

  Visual Arts Standards 1  
  Understands and applies media, techniques  and processes related to the visual arts.  
                                      2. Knows how to use structures (e.g., sensory qualities, organizational principles, expressive features) and functions of art 

Technology Standard 5 Grades 6-8 Understands the nature  and operation of systems. 
                  Benchmark 6 Knows that an open loop system (e.g., a microwave as a heating system) has no feedback and requires human intervention, where a closed loop system (e.g., a household heating system with thermostat) uses feedback

Technology Standard 5 Grades 6-8
 
Benchmark 5 Know that  systems are usually linked to
 other systems, both internally and externally, and can
contain subsystems as well as operate as subsystems

 Benchmark 4 Assembles and disassembles systems to
 manage, control, and improve their performance (e.g. a  computer program, a simple machine based on a pulley
mechanism)

                  
  Benchmark 2 Knows how part of a system can provide
  feedback when its output (in the form of material,
  energy, or information) becomes input for another part of
  the system