Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: The Basics of Genetics

Name: Paige Berzak

Content Area: Science

Grade Level: Middle School (Grade 7)

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

California 7th Grade Science Standards:
Genetics:
2. A typical cell of any organism contains genetic instructions that specify its traits. Those traits may be modified by
environmental influences. As a basis for understanding this concept:
b. Students know sexual reproduction produces offspring that inherit half their genes from each parent.
c. Students know an inherited trait can be determined by one or more genes.
d. Students know plant and animal cells contain many thousands of different genes and typically have two copies of every gene. The two copies
(or alleles) of the gene may or may not be identical, and one may be dominant in determining the phenotype while the other is recessive.
Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

Big Ideas:
1. How do the traits we inherited from our parents affect our daily life?
2. How can the principles of genetics be applied today?
Unit Goals:
1. Students will demonstrate their understanding of Gregor Mendels pea plant experiments and how those experiments contributed to the
founding of modern genetics by taking guided notes.
2. Students will demonstrate their understanding of Punnett squares and the laws of inheritance by completing a Webercise.
3. Students will demonstrate their understanding of genetic diseases by completing a graphic organizer that details the background,
associated problems, and genetics of the disease and then by giving a presentation about the disease to the class.

Unit Summary:
This unit will introduce students to basic genetic principles. Students will learn some background information on Gregor Mendel and the
experiments he did to discover the study of genetics. Students will also learn how to predict the possible outcomes of genetic crosses using
Punnett squares. This will show students how they inherited the physical traits they did from their parents. Finally, students will be able to explain
how genetic diseases affect peoples everyday lives and how these diseases are inherited.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level:

Formative:

Summative:

BrainstormWhy do we look like our parents?

Guided Notes-Mendels Work

Smiley Face Genetics Worksheet
Quiz on Punnett Squares
Quizlet Flashcards-Modern Genetic Techniques

Graphic Organizer-Genetic Diseases

Presentation about one genetic disease-how it
is inherited, Punnett square showing possible
outcomes of inheritance, effects of the disease

Lesson 1
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will
demonstrate their
understanding of Gregor
Mendels pea plant
experiments and how
those experiments
contributed to the
founding of modern
genetics by taking
guided notes.
Lesson 2

Acceptable Evidence
(Assessments):
Completion of Guided
Notes

Lesson Activities:
Students will take guided notes using the PowerPoint presentation titled Mendels Work. The
guided notes includes filling in blanks, making illustrations, making various Thinking Maps, and
comparing and contrasting using a Venn diagram.

Student Learning
Objective:
Students will
demonstrate their
understanding of Punnett
squares and the laws of
inheritance by
completing a Webercise.
Lesson 3

Acceptable Evidence:
Completion of Webercise

Lesson Activities:
Students will complete a Webercise by going to various websites and participating in activities
and answering questions about Punnett squares and the laws of inheritance.

Student Learning
Objective:
Students will
demonstrate their

Acceptable Evidence:
Completion of graphic
organizer
Genetic Disease

Lesson Activities:
Students will complete a Tree Map Thinking Map that organizes their research about their
chosen genetic disease.

understanding of genetic
diseases by completing a
graphic organizer that
details the background,
associated problems,
and genetics of the
disease and then giving
a presentation about the
disease to the class.
Unit Resources:

Presentation

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/family-history.page
http://www.dnafiles.org/
http://www.esp.org/timeline/
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/default.htm
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slRyGLmt3qc
https://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBezq1fFUEA
http://www.animalresearch.info/en/medical-advances/timeline/cloning-dolly-the-sheep/

Useful Websites: