2-15-2012 Life Sciene: Gettin' Genetics

Continuing my way through the standards, offering links, lessons, and ideas to help teach the 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Science Grades 6-8

5.3 Life Science: All students will understand that life science principles are powerful conceptual tools for making sense of the complexity, diversity, and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Order in natural systems arises in accordance with rules that govern the physical world, and the order of natural systems can be modeled and predicted through the use of mathematics.

D. Heredity and Reproduction :  Organisms reproduce, develop, and have predictable life cycles. Organisms contain genetic information that influences their traits, and they pass this on to their offspring during reproduction.
By the end of grade	Content Statement	CPI#	Cumulative Progress Indicator (CPI)	RESOURCES
6	Reproduction is essential to the continuation of every species.	5.3.6.D.1	Predict the long-term effect of interference with normal patterns of reproduction.	Mendel's Discoveries  Chromosomes Gene Scene  Reproduction and Cloning  DNA Genes  Cell Division and Inheritance Genetics  Nature vs. Nurture NOVA Evolution  NOVA Nature Medical Animation Library  Ecology Animations Encyclopedia of Life Heredity and Reproduction from Scott Foresman Genetics, Inheritance, and Variation Vocab Activity Species Variation and Environmental Factors Vocab Activity Breeding Vocab Activity Genetics Education Center What is Mitosis and Meiosis?  Cell Reproduction Millionaire Genetics with a Smile Bikini Bottom Genetics Bikini Bottom Genetics 2 SpongeBob Genetics Quiz Incomplete Dominance DiHybrid Crosses Genetics Review Genetics Challenge Science: Genomes Interactive Biology: Genetics
6	Variations exist among organisms of the same generation (e.g., siblings) and of different generations (e.g., parent to offspring).	5.3.6.D.2	Explain how knowledge of inherited variations within and between generations is applied to farming and animal breeding.
6	Traits such as eye color in human beings or fruit/flower color in plants are inherited.	5.3.6.D.3	Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits/characteristics.
8	Some organisms reproduce asexually. In these organisms, all genetic information comes from a single parent. Some organisms reproduce sexually, through which half of the genetic information comes from each parent.	5.3.8.D.1	Defend the principle that, through reproduction, genetic traits are passed from one generation to the next, using evidence collected from observations of inherited traits.
8	The unique combination of genetic material from each parent in sexually reproducing organisms results in the potential for variation.	5.3.8.D.2	Explain the source of variation among siblings.
8	Characteristics of organisms are influenced by heredity and/or their environment.	5.3.8.D.3	Describe the environmental conditions or factors that may lead to a change in a cell’s genetic information or to an organism’s development, and how these changes are passed on.

Please post a comment below if you have a site or lesson idea to share for teaching these concepts.  I would love your input!