| Activity #1 1.) Students need to have basic understanding of the vocabulary needed for this unit. 2.) Keeping the activity fun by using a word search, crossword puzzle, or individual sketches of vocabulary meanings. Also have students write meaning in their own words to help them comprehend the meaning. 3.) For copies of the vocabulary worksheet refer to activity #1 web page. The vocabulary words that we will focus on are:
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| Activity #2 1.) Punnett Squares connect to probability, ratio, percents, and fractions. 2.) Integrate math into science activities. Be creative and have fun by connecting activities to sports, flipping coins, spinner games, etc. |
| Activity # 3 This ties activity one and two together. *Students can print this activity, but check to see if the font shows up before printing multiple copies. 1.) The teacher brings a covered container into the classroom that contains a set of parent Reebops already assembled. 2.) Tell the students you have borrowed a new species from the DNR, and have volunteer students reach under the cover to feel the new species. 3.) Encourage each student to give a vivid discription of what they feel. Uncover the Reebops and listen to the giggles. 4.) Students will then make-up a possible offspring of the parent Reebops and fill out the chart according to their offspring. Encourage the students to give a name and a birthdate to their new offspring. |
| AA or Aa = 2 antenna aa=0 antenna |
EE or Ee = 2 eyes ee = 3 eyes |
XX = girl (pink tail) XY = boy (blue tail) |
| QQ or Qq = pink nose qq = yellow nose |
DD or Dd = 2 body segments dd = 3 body segments |
TT or Tt = curly tail tt = straight tail |
| NN or Nn = 2 neck ligaments nn = 3 neck ligaments |
MM or Mm = 1 green hump mm = 2 green humps |
LL or Ll = multi-colored
legs ll = single colored legs |
| Sample Table for Results |
| Trait |
GENOTYPE (Baby) |
GENOTYPE (Mom) |
GENOTYPE (Dad) |
PHENOTYPE (Baby) |
PHENOTYPE (Mom) |
PHENOTYPE (Dad) |
| Antenna |
Aa |
Aa |
Aa |
2 antenna |
2 antenna |
2 antenna |
| Nose
Color |
qq |
Qq |
Qq |
yellow nose |
pink nose |
pink nose |
| Eye
Number |
Ee |
EE |
ee |
2 eyes |
2 eyes |
3 eyes |
| # of
body segments |
Dd |
dd |
DD |
2 body segments |
3 body segments |
2 body segments |
| # of green humps |
Mm |
Mm |
Mm |
1 green hump |
1 green hump |
1 green hump |
| Sex |
XY |
XX |
XY |
boy/blue tail |
girl/pink tail |
boy/blue tail |
| Tail
Shape |
TT |
Tt |
TT |
curly tail |
curly tail |
curly tail |
| Legs |
Ll |
LL |
ll |
multi-colored legs |
multi-colored legs |
single colored legs |
| Neck
Ligaments |
nn |
Nn |
Nn |
3 neck ligaments |
2 neck ligaments |
2 neck ligaments |
| Activity
#4 Creativity * Don't forget a camera to take pictures of the students for this activity. 1.) Students create a new species by selecting 9 traits for their offspring. (Examples: horns, gills, feathers, wings, web feet, etc.) 2.) Students create and fill out a graph that includes traits, genotype, and phenotype of mom, dad, and offspring. 3.) Students create a drawing of their new species. Encourage the students to make the picture 3-D, by using additional materials such as: buttons, sequence, toothpicks, folded paper, pipe cleaners, etc. 4.) Students will write-up a presentation to present to the class as if they were speaking at a zoologist conference. |
National Standards www.mcrel.org Science Standard #4. Understands the principles of heredity and related concepts Level III. (Grades 6-8) 1.) Knows that reproduction is a characteristic of all living things and is essential to the continuation of a species 4.) Knows that hereditary information is contained in genes (located in the chromosomes of each cell), each of which carries a single unit of information; an inherited trait of an individual can be determined by either one or many genes, and a single gene can influence more than one trait 5.) Knows that the characteristics of an organism can be described in terms of a combination of traits; some traits are inherited through the coding of genetic material and others result from environmental factors Math Standard #7. Understands and appllies basic and advanced concepts of probability 2.) Determines probability using experiments and simulations. Language Arts #8 Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes 5.) Uses level-appropriate vocabulary. |
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Welcome! |
The Mystery Starts Here |
What to Do? |
What's the Term? |
P & P |
Reebops |
Congratulations! |
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