Unit Lesson Plan – Inheritance of Traits
Time Frame:
10 days
Teacher:
Grade:
3
PSI Elementary School Science
School:
Subject:
NGSS DCI:
LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
LS3.B: Variation of Traits
Instructional Objective:
3-LS3-1
Instructional Objective:
3-LS3-2
Many characteristics of organisms are inherited from their parents.
(3-LS3-1)
Other characteristics result from individual s’ interactions with the environment, which can range from diet to learning. Many characteristics involve both inheritance and environment. (3- LS3-2)
Different organisms vary in how they look and function because they have different inherited information. (3-LS3-1)
The environment also affects the traits that an organism develops. (3-
LS3-2) http://www.nextgenscience.org/3ls3-heredity-inheritance-variation-traits
Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.
Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
Essential Questions
(What questions will the student be able to answer as a result of the instruction?)
1. What is the difference between inherited traits and environmental effects?
2. Why do offspring look similar to their parents?
3. Why is there variation between offspring?
4. How does the environment affect genetic inheritance?
Knowledge & Skills
(What skills are needed to achieve the desired results?)
By the end of this unit, students will know:

Offspring inherit traits from their parents.

Variation occurs due to different combinations of inherited traits being passed on to offspring.

Conditions of the environment can alter inherited traits.

Environmental effects are not inherited or passed on to future offspring.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

Determine the difference between inherited traits and environmental effects.

Identify variation.

Explain why variation occurs.

Describe how environmental effects can change inherited traits.
Assessment
(What is acceptable evidence to show desired results (rubrics, exam, etc.)? Attach Copy
During the Smart Notebook lesson designed to introduce concepts, students will be continually questioned on these concepts using a combination of class work/homework questions and the SMART Response system. Classwork and
Homework questions will be discussed as a class and misconceptions will be addressed by the teacher prior to the formal evaluations listed below.
Activity: Bearded Wormfly
Lab: Pothos Plant
Quiz: Inherited Traits and Variation www.njctl.org 3rd Grade PSI Inheritance of Traits

Unit Test
PBA
(What is the sequence of activities, learning experiences, etc, that will lead to desired results (the plan)?
Day
Topic Classwork Homework
1 Lab Set-Up
Slide 5
Pothos Plant Lab Set-Up
N/A
2 Inherited Traits
Slides 6-16;
Classwork #1
Homework #1
3 Inherited Variation Slides 17-27 N/A
4 Inherited Variation
Slides 28-32;
Classwork #2
Homework #2
5
6
7
Inherited Variation
Inherited Traits & Variation;
Environmental Effects
Environmental Effects
Slide 33
Bearded Wormfly Activity
Quiz;
Slides 34-38
Slides 39-49;
Classwork #4
Finish lab questions;
Study for quiz
N/A
Homework #4
8
9
Environmental Effects
Unit Review
Slide 50
Pothos Plant Lab Analysis
Unit Review;
Study Guide
Finish lab questions;
Study Guide
Study for test
10 Unit Test Unit Test N/A
*While there are many slides for each topic, several slides are interrelated and support each topic.
**HW Problems are currently not scaffolded from least to most difficult, but are instead listed in order of topic. Teacher should pay special attention at the end of each class period when assigning HW so that only problems related to the topic that was taught are being assigned.
***The pacing guide is based on 40 minute class periods, you may need to adjust based on your school’s schedule. www.njctl.org 3rd Grade PSI Inheritance of Traits