CKSci Unit 5: Genetics
Focus:
In this unit, students investigate the phenomenon of the similarities and differences between organisms. In doing so they ask and resolve questions about phenotypes, genotypes, and inheritance in both sexually and asexually reproducing organisms. The subtitle of this unit is Why are living things different from one another? Phenomena such as the different levels of musculature in cattle, variation within tulips, different phenotypes of planaria are things students might have observed, but what causes these differences? What is the genetic basis for variation among organisms? What are genes and alleles? This unit allows students to observe the phenomenon of variation and inheritance and then spend time working with classmates to analyze their shared experience, formulate new questions, and develop new strategies for answering them. Students explore concepts that include the following:
- How do organisms get their differences?
- How do diet and exercise affect muscle size?
- How does an animal get “extra-big” muscles?
- How can we use our model to explain a different trait variation?
- How do plants reproduce?
- How do organisms reproduce without sperm and eggs?
- How much of trait variation in a population is controlled by genes, and how much is influenced by the environment?
As students move through their day-to-day activities, they will also read Core Knowledge literacy selections. These include factual articles, history of the sciences, art and literature, spotting bad science in the media and advertisements, graphics comprehension, research-type articles, reliability of sources, and other areas of science literacy.
Number of Lessons:
- Teacher Guide: 17 Lessons
- Student Reader: 5 Collections
Instruction Time (Student Reader):
- Lessons are designed to be completed in one or more class periods.
- A Pacing Guide found in Online Resources offers a suggested time to complete the entire unit if class is held each day.
- The entire unit should take about 28 days to complete if class is held each day.
- A complete list of Materials needed to complete the unit is provided in Online Resources.
Additional Search Terms:
science literacy • genetics • gene • environment • variation • trait • phenotype • genotype • twins • karyotype • DNA • allele • gene pool • selective breeding • genetic diversity • sexual reproduction • asexual reproduction • pollination • clone • epigenetic • nonfiction • informational text
