1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
Name of Project: Inherited Traits Duration: 3 weeks
Subject/Course: Life Science Teacher(s): Princess, Jana, Elizabeth Grade Level: 7
Other subject areas to Math
be included, if any:
Project Idea Our project will focus on the passing of traits from parents to offspring; students will determine the genotype and
Summary of the issue, phenotype of commonly observable traits and create Punnett Squares and Genetic crosses that illustrate the genotype,
challenge, investigation, phenotype and ratios of each trait.
scenario, or problem:
Driving Question How are traits passed from parents to offspring through the inheritance of genes?
Content and Skills Standard set 7.2: Genetics
Standards to be
addressed: b. Students must know sexual reproduction produces offspring that inherit half their genes
from each parent.
d. Students must 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.
c. Students must know an inherited trait can be determined by one or more genes.
e. Students must know DNA is the genetic material of living organisms and is located in the
chromosomes of each cell.
T+A E T+A E
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2. 21st Century Skills Collaboration X Other:
to be explicitly taught and
assessed (T+A) or that
will be encouraged (E) by
Presentation X
project work, but not
taught or assessed: Critical Thinking: X
Presentation Audience:
Group: Display board with Research Report; PPT or iMovie. X
Culminating Class:
Products and
X
Performances
School:
X
Community:
Each individual will be able to clearly carry out his/her assigned role in the Experts:
Individual: group (i.e. project manager, reporter, graphics coordinator, presentation Web:
participant etc.)
Other:
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Entry event to We will conduct a survey of students in each class to gather information on the most common observable
launch inquiry, phenotypes that are present. Complete drills to practice Punnett Squares and ratios and list genotypes.
engage students:
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3. Assessments Quizzes/Tests X Practice Presentations X
Formative
Assessments Journal/Learning Log X Notes
(During
Project) Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes X Checklists X
Rough Drafts X Concept Maps
Online Tests/Exams Other:
Written Product(s), with rubric: X Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with rubric:
Summative __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Assessments
(End of Project) Oral Presentation, with rubric X Peer Evaluation X
Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test Self-Evaluation X
Essay Test Other:
.
Resources On-site people, facilities: After school supervision for after school working time, use of the library,
Needed computer lab
Equipment: Access to computers, LCD projectors, flash drive, projector screens/white
board, video conferencing unit
Materials: Art supplies, display board
Community resources: Library, museum
Reflection Journal/Learning Log X Focus Group
Methods (Individual,
Group, and/or Whole-Class Discussion X Fishbowl Discussion
Whole Class)
Survey Other: Gallery walk, Group/whole X
class/individual interviews
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4. PROJECT TEACHING AND LEARNING GUIDE
Project: Inherited Traits Course/Semester: Fall 2011
Knowledge and Skills Needed By Students Scaffolding / Materials/ Lessons To Be Provided
to successfully complete culminating products and by the project teacher, other teachers, experts,
performances, and do well on summative assessments mentors, or community members
Online Research Skills Effective search techniques activity led by teacher.

PowerPoint Excel Instruction in software and use of tutorials provided by
 computer applications teacher or content area teacher.
Presentation Skills Video review of students presentations, activity to learn
 presentation rubric, mock presentation by instructor,
Practice presentations for mastery
Report writing Teacher led small-group instruction on the features of
 report writing. Peer editing of drafts.
Life Science content knowledge Textbook review, lecture notes, quizzes, on-line research,
 research-based worksheets.
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5. PROJECT CALENDAR
Project: Start Date:
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
Project Week One
Project Week Two
Project Week Three
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6. Project Week Four
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7. © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 7