Fifth Grade- Standard 5

Students will understand that traits are

passed from the parent organisms to their
offspring, and that sometimes the offspring
may possess variations of these traits that
may help or hinder survival in a given
environment.
Objective
Using supporting evidence, show that traits
are transferred from a parent organism to its
offspring. Describe how some characteristics
could give a species a survival advantage in a
particular environment.
Heredity- the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically
from one generation to another.
Genetics- Study of of heredity and the variation of inherited
characteristics.
DNA- the material that carries all genetic information about how a living
thing will look and function. For instance, DNA in humans determines
such things as what color the eyes are and how the lungs work.
Offspring- a person's child or children
Traits- a distinguishing quality or characteristic.
Chromosomes- Thread like structure of nucleic acids and proteins found
in nucleus of most living cells, information in the form of genes
Alleles- One or two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by
mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosomes.

I will be able to explain that traits are
transferred from parent to offspring and that
certain traits can give a particular species
distinct survival advantages.

The vocabulary terms. For example, Genetics and DNA.

A dominant trait is the most likely to be found in the whole population.
Example, (Height)

Learned vs. Inherited

Some people may think a cat inherits the trait of how to use a litter box.


That a dog inherits the trait to catch a ball.


That a pack of wolves inherit
the ability to be successful hunters.
All living things inherit characteristics or traits from their parents.
Members of all species transfer traits from one generation to the next. The
passing of traits from parent to offspring is called heredity and causes the
offspring to resemble the parents. Some traits differ among members of a
particular population, and these variations may help a given species to
survive better in a given environment in getting food, protecting itself,
finding shelter, and reproducing. These variations give the individual a
survival advantage over other individuals of the same species.
shape of teeth shape of beak body markings number of legs
Traits are passed from parents to offspring through
genetics. Things such as height, eye, hair and skin
color are all determined through the genes passed
from parent to offspring. Members of any given
species transfer traits from one generation to the
next.




What is something we all have in common?
Doggy DNA

Bear
Cheetah
Frog
Ect.

Strengths Weakness
Research a specific animal and report how specific physical
attributes that are inherited provide an advantage for survival in a
specific environment.
We all inherit traits. Be grateful for the
unique qualities that make you the person
you are!