LS3.B

Comparing Mitosis & Meiosis Resources

Liz Belasic1 Comment

meiosis-vs-mitosis-gif.gifIntro to Meiosis with a comparison to Mitosis

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Amoeba Sisters Videos:

Pedigrees & Genetic Disorders

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Free Resources:

Videos:

 

Owl Survival Simulation Activity to use with the Novel ‘Hoot’ by Carl Hiaasen

Liz Belasic1 Comment

This lesson plan was modified to be used along with the novel “Hoot” by Carl Hiaasen. It can be used as a stand alone lesson as part of your Ecology Unit.

Objectives:

  • simulate the struggle for survival of an owl family.
  • bring food back to the nest despite obstacles.
  • feed and take care of owlets.
  • live in a nest as an owlet.
  • experience how adaptations affect a species.
  • discuss the importance of resources for a community.

Lesson Plan Resources:

 

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Materials:

  • Colored Chalk (to outline nests) or painters tape
  • Black Beans 1-3 lbs (food)
  • White Beans – 5 beans (poison)
  • Additional larger Beans to represent mice, rodents, etc
  • Plastic forks (2 per owl parent)
  • Small paper or plastic cups (1 per owlet)
  • Owl Assignment Sheet – Cut up for students to pick their role

 

Meiosis & DNA Cheat Sheets – Free

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Updated 11.25.18 – click links for most updated versions:

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I made these cheat sheets for my 7s to help them with our Meiosis and DNA unit. These are two of the most complex topics we cover in Life Science and it helps them synthesize all of the information into one page.

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Download these free PDFs below:

DNA Cheat Sheet – 2017 – Google Docs – this covers the fundamentals of DNA at a 7th grade level

Meiosis Summary Cheat Sheet – 2017 – this covers the basics of Meiosis along with a comparison to Mitosis at each stage for a 7th grade level

 

 

Plastic Egg Genetics

Liz Belasic3 Comments

Easter-Eggs

It is that time of year again: time to ask everyone you know to save their plastic Easter eggs and that you will be more than happy to take them off their hands – once the kids have emptied out the goodies, of course! 

Below are some links to teachers who have used this lesson in the past:

  • University of Southern California (link)
  • Western Kentucky University (link)
  • Science Matters (link)
  • Homeschool Life Journal (link)
  • And a big thank you to Brent from Georgia who did a great job explaining how to set up and use this activity with your students, see his detailed video below.

Resources:

  • Original Lesson Plan (link)
  • Student Worksheet I created for the lesson plan (pdf)
    • NOTE: the colors in this activity represent Incomplete Dominance and their outcomes
    • Here is a nice review of the three different types of dominance from Khan Academy (video link)
    • For Dominant and Recessive Traits only, this lesson would have to be modified and use 1 whole egg for each parent, and the answers would NOT be inside the eggs:
      • Blue & Yellow only (BB, Bb = blue, bb = yellow)
        • Blue egg – 2 blue pieces
        • Blue egg – 1 blue piece, 1 yellow piece
        • Yellow egg – 2 yellow pieces
          • Open eggs for genotypes, then make punnett squares
      • Purple & Pink only  (PP, Pp = Purple, pp = pink)
  • BrainPOP Video: Heredity (free link)
  • BrainPOP Video: DNA (free link)

If you have used this lesson in the past, would love to hear how it went! If you wrote about it on your blog, I would love to add your link to the site as well!

Charles Darwin Survival Game – Link Updated

Liz Belasic4 Comments

Screen Shot 2015-03-13 at 11.11.19 AMWill your species survive for a million years? Will it survive a viral outbreak, meteorite impacts, predators, temperature changes, and changes in food sources?

In this natural selection simulation, students will choose 3 individuals as their starter population. What traits do they think will increase the chances of survival for their species? Long legs? Long necks? Stripes? Furry or bulky bodies? Only time will tell!

My 6th graders enjoyed playing this game and many were much more successful than I was 🙂

Links:

  • NEW LINK UPDATED 12.18.17 https://www.ologames.com/Free_Games/Who-Wants-To-Live-A-Million-Years 
    • I removed the old link, looks like you can’t play in online anymore, needs to be downloaded now and says might be harmful?
  • Natural Selection – how are traits passes on?
    • Click on Natural Selection in the menu options
  • Who wants to live a million years?
    • Click on Survival Game in the menu options