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Storyline Narrative 7.4.1

Standard 7.4.1: Develop and use a model to explain the effect that different types of reproduction have on genetic variation, including asexual and sexual reproduction.

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Student Friendly Objective: I can develop a model that shows how different types of reproduction can affect genetic variation.

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Anchor Phenomena: Hybridized squash, and other organisms that reproduce sexually, can exhibit traits from both parents.

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Big Idea: Sexual reproduction produces genetic variation.

 

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Students are introduced to this standard when they are shown the pictures of hybrid squash.  They are engaged when they are discuss with their partner what causes the squash to look that way.  A series of questions leads them to a flower dissection lab where they explore the structures of flowers. Informational text and a videos introduce students to the idea of sexual reproduction and that traits are passed from parent to offspring.  They construct explanations as to how DNA from two parents causes in the mixing of traits in their offspring.

 

Students elaborate on the idea of reproduction when they are given given a piece of grass sod and learn that not all traits are inherited from two parents.  Asexual reproduction is further investigated as students obtain information to collect evidence showing asexual reproduction causes identical traits.   


Evaluation occurs as students create models for organisms that reproduce sexually, asexually or use both type of reproduction.  

Conceptual Understandings

There is somehow of mixing of the green and yellow squash.

How do two squash plants mix?

Snapshot

Students make observations and create explanations.

Episode 1

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Question

What causes these squash to look like this?

Anchor 1

Episode 2

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Question

How do two squash plants mix?

Snapshot

Students conduct a flower dissection investigation.

Conceptual Understandings

Pollen from one flower/plant fertilizes the egg from a different flower/plant.

What happens when a pollen cell fertilizes an egg cell?

Anchor 2

Conceptual Understandings

The DNA from the male cell combines with the DNA from the female egg cell. This new cell will grow into a new organism

How does DNA affect how the new plant or squash looks?

Snapshot

Students read an informational text article.

Episode 3

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Question

What happens when a pollen cell fertilizes an egg cell?

Anchor 3

Episode 4

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Question

How does DNA affect how the new plant or squash looks?

Snapshot

Students obtain information by watching  two videos.

Conceptual Understandings

DNA is a code that makes proteins. Proteins make cells and organisms, including what they look like.

What evidence do you see that shows may be inherited traits from two different parents?

Anchor 4

Conceptual Understandings

Offspring have traits because they inherited genes from two parents in sexual reproduction.

Do all plants have flowers and if so why do I get grass in my flower beds?

Snapshot

Students use models to show how traits are passed from parent to offspring.

Episode 5

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Question

What evidence do you see that shows may be inherited traits from two different parents?

Anchor 5

Episode 6

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Question

Do all plants have flowers and if so why do I get grass in my flower beds?

Snapshot

Students read an article about grass flowers and then perform a grass sod dissection.  Other forms of plant asexual reproduction are shown.

Conceptual Understandings

Organisms can reproduce with only one parent (asexual reproduction) and have identical traits.

What other ways can organisms reproduce asexually?

Anchor 6

Conceptual Understandings

A variety of organisms reproduce asexually, sexually or both ways.

Snapshot

Students read material about different  asexual method and create models of both asexual and sexual reproduction.

Episode 7

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Question

What other ways can organisms reproduce asexually?

Anchor 7
Anchor 8
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