The Transferring of Genetic Information

1. Bellringer - Have students think about and list characteristics that they believe are passed down from their parents. They can think about why siblings might have different hair color, even though they have the same parents. Students can do this individually, in pairs, or small groups. This can also be done digitally or in their journal. The teacher can list all the possible characteristics on a shared document or on chart paper.  
2. The teacher will inform the students that they will be learning about genetic traits and characteristics.  The teacher will go over the essential questions and performance indicators with the class so they know what they are expected to learn by the end of the lesson. 
3. The teacher will review the vocabulary (see list in resources, “Genetic Inheritance Review Vocabulary List and Definitions”) to the class. The teacher will share the list with the students (digitally, hand-out, or whole class), read aloud the vocabulary list and definitions,  students write the vocabulary words and definitions in their journal or digital device using their own definitions, and students draw a picture of each word in their journal or digital device, The terms and definitions are from the SUPPORT GUIDE 3.0 FOR SEVENTH GRADE SOUTH CAROLINA ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR SCIENCE - https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards-learning/science/support-documents-and-resources/grade-seven-science-support-document/  (pages 56-57).
4. Heredity: Who Are You? | Science Trek Video (Resource 2) - https://scetv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/heredity-who-are-you-science-trek/heredity-who-are-you-science-trek/.Students will complete the “Heredity: Who Are You” Video Learning Activity (found in the resources tab) to take notes and check for understanding. This can be distributed digitally, printed, or in their journal.  The teacher should review the activity prior to watching the video so the students will know what to expect. The teacher will use the document, “Heredity: Who Are You” Video Learning Activity Answer Key (found in the resources tab), to review with the students, check for understanding, and provide feedback. The students will need these notes for the culminating assessment.  The students should share their responses with each other. 
5. The students will complete the following interactive activity, “Some Genes Are Dominant” -https://scetv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/hew06.sci.life.gen.dominantgene/some-genes-are-dominant - Students will complete the “Some Genes are Dominant” Interactive Learning Activity (found in the resources tab) to take notes and check for understanding. This can be distributed digitally, printed, or in their journal.  The teacher should review the activity prior to watching the video so the students will know what to expect. The teacher will use the document, “Some Genes are Dominant” Interactive Learning Activity Answer Key (found in the resources tab), to review with the students, check for understanding, and provide feedback. The students will need these notes for the culminating assessment.
6. Culminating Assessment - Students will create a presentation on how genetic information is transferred from parent to offspring in organisms that reproduce sexually. The presentation will include examples of inherited traits, comparison of dominant and recessive traits, a comparison and examples of homozygous and heterozygous, and will identify a dominant and recessive trait that they possess. See the document, “How Genetic Information is Transferred Presentation Directions and Rubric,” in the assessments tab. The teacher should use the rubric to assess each student’s presentation. The teacher may want to share this entire document with the students so they understand the expectations of the presentation. 
7. The teacher will lead a discussion based on the essential question with the class as a final review.   

If you are using a cloud file storage system (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or iCloud), I would recommend having the students create a digital folder for this lesson to save their notes and student work. It will help with organization.

How Genetic Information is Transferred Presentation Directions and Rubric - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M-jCPq6-wE1vcxcry1hklTyBwx5PPZhg2gKR...