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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes

Inherited and environmental characteristics

Cells, genetics and evolution

CCSS NGSS.3-LS3-1CCSS NGSS.3-LS3-2CCSS NGSS.1-LS3-1England: KS2 Y6 Evolution and inheritance

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Inherited and environmental characteristics.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: no earlier skill in the map; start from what students know.

Leads to: Plant and animal cells; Evolution and fossil evidence; How the environment can change an organism's traits

Materials: Microscope images or slides, Cell diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval: three short questions students should already manage. Answers on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: flower colour of a plant variety? (inherited (from parents) / environmental (from life)) → inherited (from parents)Prompt: Were you born with it, or did it happen during life?
  2. Why do puppies look like their parents but not exactly the same? (They eat the same food. / They copy their parents on purpose. / They get a mix of characteristics from both parents. / All dogs are identical.) → They get a mix of characteristics from both parents.Prompt: Each parent passes on half of the genes.
  3. Inheritance: which statement is true? (The language you speak is inherited. / Children are always exact copies of one parent. / A scar is an environmental characteristic. / If a parent loses a finger, its babies are born without that finger.) → A scar is an environmental characteristic.Prompt: Which things can be passed on in genes?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
  • Share the objective: Inherited and environmental characteristics. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: flower colour of a plant variety?
  • Step 1: Inherited characteristics are passed on from parents in their genes.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: inherited (from parents)
  • Answer: inherited (from parents)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: a suntan? (inherited (from parents) / environmental (from life)) → environmental (from life)Prompt: Were you born with it, or did it happen during life?
  2. Identical twins have the same genes. One becomes much stronger. Why? (Strength is never affected by exercise. / Their genes changed into different ones. / They are not really twins. / The environment, such as exercise, made a difference.) → The environment, such as exercise, made a difference.Prompt: What can be different if their genes are the same?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: natural eye colour? (inherited (from parents) / environmental (from life)) → inherited (from parents)Prompt: Were you born with it, or did it happen during life?
  2. A plant grown in a dark cupboard is tall, thin and pale. Its seeds are planted in sunlight. The new plants are… (white, because their parent was in the dark / unable to grow / normal and green, because the pale look was caused by the environment / pale, because they inherit it) → normal and green, because the pale look was caused by the environmentPrompt: Is being pale passed on in the seeds?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Use concrete materials: microscope images or slides.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Plant and animal cells; Evolution and fossil evidence; How the environment can change an organism's traits.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Inherited and environmental characteristics

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Inheritance: which statement is true?

    • A. Children are always exact copies of one parent.
    • B. A scar is an environmental characteristic.
    • C. If a parent loses a finger, its babies are born without that finger.
    • D. The language you speak is inherited.

  2. Question 2

    Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: a scar from a fall?

    • A. inherited (from parents)
    • B. environmental (from life)

  3. Question 3

    Why do puppies look like their parents but not exactly the same?

    • A. They eat the same food.
    • B. They copy their parents on purpose.
    • C. All dogs are identical.
    • D. They get a mix of characteristics from both parents.

  4. Question 4

    Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: being able to ride a bike?

    • A. inherited (from parents)
    • B. environmental (from life)

  5. Question 5

    A plant grown in a dark cupboard is tall, thin and pale. Its seeds are planted in sunlight. The new plants are…

    • A. unable to grow
    • B. pale, because they inherit it
    • C. white, because their parent was in the dark
    • D. normal and green, because the pale look was caused by the environment

  6. Question 6

    Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: natural eye colour?

    • A. inherited (from parents)
    • B. environmental (from life)

  7. Question 7

    Which characteristic depends on both genes and environment?

    • A. a tattoo
    • B. height
    • C. natural eye colour
    • D. blood group

  8. Question 8

    Identical twins have the same genes. One becomes much stronger. Why?

    • A. They are not really twins.
    • B. The environment, such as exercise, made a difference.
    • C. Their genes changed into different ones.
    • D. Strength is never affected by exercise.

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Answer key: Inherited and environmental characteristics

  1. 1. B. A scar is an environmental characteristic.

  2. 2. B. environmental (from life)

  3. 3. D. They get a mix of characteristics from both parents.

  4. 4. B. environmental (from life)

  5. 5. D. normal and green, because the pale look was caused by the environment

  6. 6. A. inherited (from parents)

  7. 7. B. height

  8. 8. B. The environment, such as exercise, made a difference.