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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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: a plant growing pale in the shade? (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? (The environment, such as exercise, made a difference. / They are not really twins. / Their genes changed into different ones. / Strength is never affected by exercise.) → The environment, such as exercise, made a difference.Prompt: What can be different if their genes are the same?
  3. Inheritance: which statement is true? (If a parent loses a finger, its babies are born without that finger. / The language you speak is inherited. / Offspring of plants and animals usually vary from their parents. / Children are always exact copies of one parent.) → Offspring of plants and animals usually vary from their parents.Prompt: Which things can be passed on in genes?

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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 plant growing pale in the shade? (inherited (from parents) / environmental (from life)) → environmental (from life)Prompt: Were you born with it, or did it happen during life?
  2. Which characteristic depends on both genes and environment? (blood group / a tattoo / height / natural eye colour) → heightPrompt: Food and health also affect this one.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Inheritance: which statement is true? (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. / The language you speak is inherited.) → A scar is an environmental characteristic.Prompt: Which things can be passed on in genes?
  2. Identical twins have the same genes. One becomes much stronger. Why? (Their genes changed into different ones. / Strength is never affected by exercise. / 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?

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

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

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

  2. Question 2

    Inheritance: which statement is true?

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

  3. Question 3

    Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: natural eye colour?

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: a cat's fur pattern?

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

  6. Question 6

    Which characteristic depends on both genes and environment?

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

  7. Question 7

    Is this characteristic inherited or environmental: blood group?

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

  8. Question 8

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

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Answer key: Inherited and environmental characteristics

  1. 1. B. They get a mix of characteristics from both parents.

  2. 2. C. A scar is an environmental characteristic.

  3. 3. A. inherited (from parents)

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

  5. 5. A. inherited (from parents)

  6. 6. C. height

  7. 7. A. inherited (from parents)

  8. 8. B. normal and green, because the pale look was caused by the environment