MS-LS1-8 | Sensory Receptors and Stimuli

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Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli, resulting in immediate behavior and/or storage as memories.

Clarification statement: Assessment does not include mechanisms for the transmission of this information.

Grade 8 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-LS1-8 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Exam	Cluster	Question
Spring 2025	Organ Systems and Responses	Question 20
	Organ Systems and Responses	Question 23

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-LS1-8 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Given information, identify a sensory receptor and the resulting response (immediate behavior) of the organism, from those provided, due to the stimuli detected.

Level 2: Given information about a sensory receptor that responded to a stimulus, describe the organism’s immediate behavior and/or storage as memories as a result of this stimulus.

Level 3: Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli, resulting in immediate behavior and/or storage as memories.

Level 4: Gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to explain how all sensory receptors work to detect stimuli, and describe how organisms respond to these stimuli in terms of immediate behaviors and/or as memories.

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-LS1-8.

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NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation MS-LS1-8 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
  • Gather, read, and synthesize information from multiple appropriate sources and assess the credibility, accuracy, and possible bias of each publication and methods used, and describe how they are supported or not supported by evidence.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• LS1.D: Information Processing
  • Each sense receptor responds to different inputs (electromagnetic, mechanical, chemical), transmitting signals to the brain, which are processed to result in immediate behaviors or memories.
  • (NYSED) Plants respond to stimuli such as gravity (geotropism) and light (phototropism).

Crosscutting Concepts

• Cause and Effect
  • Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural or designed systems.

Page contributors: Caroline Leonard, Conrad Richman, Shirley Shameen

MS | MS. Structure, Function and Information Processing