KS3 SCIENCE
Curriculum link: Genetics and evolution
(variation between individuals)
BASIC CONCEPTS IN GENETICS LESSON PLAN
Introduce your students to basic concepts in Genetics. This section introduces the concept of genetic variation
through considering inherited and environmental variations. Students will also research the structure of DNA.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Resources required: Marine iguana photos, genetic variation animation, genetics terminology dominoes.

1.
FIRE STARTER
3.
Show students two pictures of different marine iguanas
and ask them to write down as many ways they think they
are different and why they might be different. From the
list of ideas identified discuss the concepts of inherited
and environmental variation as a way to introduce the
concept of genetic variation.
2.
GAINING GROUND
MAKING WAVES
In pairs students can put the genetics terminology
dominoes in the correct order to display knowledge of the
key terms for this section of the module.

To know that heredity is the process
by which genetic information is
transmitted from one generation to
the next.
To understand that genetic variation
between individuals within a species
can be due to inherited or
environmental variation.
To understand how the double helix is
formed.
4. FUTURE FOCUS
Students should research the structure of DNA molecule to
understand how the double helix is formed.
Students should watch the genetic variation animation
on the Discovering Galapagos website which introduces
the key concepts related to genetic variation and why it is
relevant to learning about the Galapagos Islands. Talk
students through the links between the cell, nucleus,
chromosome and gene so that they can draw an
annotated diagram, introducing key concepts and
terminology as listed in the online glossary.
A RESOURCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST (REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1043470) AND THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
STUDENTS’ OUTCOMES


To explain how individual variation
can be due to inherited or
environmental forces.
To explain how the double helix is
formed.