1. Inherited traits vs Learned behaviors
Prior to Lesson
1-minute Essay
What does it mean to inherit something?
To get a trait from a parent (born with it)
What does it mean to learn something?
To acquire knowledge (not born with it)
What are genes?
Physical features passed on to kids,
characteristics passed onto kids, keep population diverse
During Lesson
Concept Mapping
Two columns sorting inherited vs. learned behaviors
Inherited Traits
Eye color
Hair color
Height
Learned Behaviors
Hunt
Fish
Walk
Run
At End of Lesson
Written Paper
Discuss the difference between learned and inherited behaviors and their importance in
subsistence lifestyle. Learn how to gather, hunt, and fish. Inherit how to tolerate cold
weather (short, stocky, etc…).
2. Sexual vs. Asexual reproduction
Prior to Lesson
One minute write
What is sexual reproduction? Animals, more diversity, slower reproduction rate
What is asexual reproduction? Bacteria, plants, fungi, fast reproduction, less diversity
Sexual reproduction involves two parents that make genetically diverse offspring.
Asexual reproduction involves one parent that makes an exact copy.
During Lesson
True/False Quiz listing several living things. Students must be able to answer if the
organism reproduces sexually or asexually.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
___ T / F
___ T / F
___ T / F
___ T / F
___ T / F
Humans reproduce sexually.
Flowers reproduce asexually.
Grass reproduces sexually.
Turtles reproduce asexually.
Fish reproduce sexually.
6. ___ T / F
7. ___ T / F
8. ___ T / F
9. ___ T / F
10. ___ T / F
Frogs reproduce asexually.
Mosquitoes reproduce sexually.
Jellyfish reproduce asexually.
Starfish reproduce asexually.
Spiders reproduce sexually.
At End of Lesson
Make a poster drawing 5 organisms that reproduce sexually on one side and 5 organisms
that reproduce asexually on the other side. Students will give a 1-2 minute presentation
on their poster to explain why they put each organism in the appropriate column.
3. Mutations
Prior to Lesson
Thumb It! (Thumbs up, thumbs down, thumbs out)
Do you know what a mutation is? Error in cell division.
Can a mutation be good? Bad? Neutral?
During Lesson
Think/Draw
Draw a picture of a helpful mutation.
Draw a picture of a harmful mutation.
Draw a picture of a neutral mutation.
At End of Lesson
Classify a group of mutations as harmful, helpful, or neutral
A hereditary disease
Cancer
Resist disease
An extra limb
4. Classification of Organisms
Prior to Lesson
T/F Quiz
Test of misconceptions i.e. __ T/F A salmon is a mammal.
During Lesson
Concept Mapping
Five columns placing animals in the correct column (mammal, fish, bird, reptile,
amphibian)
At End of Lesson
Written Paper / Diagram / Poster
Describe how the life cycle of a bear depends on the life cycle of a fish.
Describe how the life cycle of a bird depends on the cycle of the seasons
Describe how the life cycle of a fish depends of the cycle of the seasons.
5. Energy Transfer (food chain, food web, photosynthesis)
Prior to Lesson
KWL (Know, Want to know, Learned)
What does energy transfer mean?
During Lesson
Concept Mapping
Draw a food web from a list of organisms given to each group. Also classify as producer,
consumer, and decomposer
Draw a diagram describing the process of photosynthesis
At End of Lesson
Write a paper
Pick one organism from your food web. What would happen if that organism were
removed from the web?
What would happen if there were no decomposers?
6. Organs, Organ systems and their functions
Prior to Lesson
Thumb It! (Thumbs up, Thumbs down, Thumbs out)
Do you know the following terms:
Kidney, heart, lungs, stomach, brain, liver, pancreas, intestine, nervous system, muscular
system, skeletal system, circulatory system
Do you know the function of the following terms:
Kidney, heart, lungs, stomach, brain, liver, pancreas, intestine, nervous system, muscular
system, skeletal system.
During Lesson
Presentation
Each student takes one of the following organs: Kidney, heart, lungs, stomach, brain,
liver, pancreas, intestine. Each student will present his or her organ to the class
answering the following questions in a 1 – 2 minute presentation.
Where in the body is my organ located?
How big is my organ?
What is the function of my organ?
At End of Lesson
Quiz/Test – Describe what organ system each organ belongs to. Also discuss how the
circulatory system, respiratory system, and nervous system are cycles.
7. Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells
Prior to Lesson
1-minute essay
How are a plant cell and an animal cell the same? How are they different?
During Lesson
Concept Mapping – Animal Cell / Plant Cell
List all of the organelles contained in each type of cell
Jigsaw – function of each organelle
At End of Lesson
Students make a poster of a plant and an animal cell. All parts are labeled.