Science: Heredity & Adaptation
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All living things inherit a set of characteristics or traits from their parents. Members of any given 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 parent. Some traits differ among members of a population, and these variations may help a particular species to survive better in a given environment in getting food, finding shelter, protecting itself, and reproducing. These variations give the individual a survival advantage over other individuals of the same species.
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Standard 3.2.1: Develop and use models to describe changes that organisms go through during their life cycles. Emphasize that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but follow a pattern of birth, growth, reproduction, and death. Examples of changes in life cycles could include how some plants and animals look different at different stages of life or how other plants and animals only appear to change size in their life.
Standard 3.2.2: Analyze and interpret data to identify patterns of traits that plants and animals have inherited from parents. Emphasize the similarities and differences in traits between parent organisms and offspring and variation of traits in groups of similar organisms.
Mystery Science Lesson 4 - Trait Variation, Inheritance, & Artificial Selection
Mystery Science Lesson 5 - Trait Variation, Natural Selection, & Survival
Standard 3.2.3: Construct an explanation that the environment can affect the traits of an organism. Examples could include that the growth of normally tall plants is stunted with insufficient water or that pets given too much food and little exercise may become overweight.
Mystery Science Lesson 8 - Traits & Environmental Variation
Standard 3.2.4: Construct an explanation showing how variations in traits and behaviors can affect the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce. Examples of traits could include large thorns protecting a plant from being eaten
or strong smelling flowers to attracting certain pollinators. Examples of behaviors could include animals living in groups for protection or migrating to find more food.
Mystery Science Lesson 6 - Animal Groups and Survival
Standard 3.2.5: Engage in argument from evidence that in a particular habitat (system) some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. Emphasize that organisms and habitats form systems in which the parts depend upon each other. Examples of evidence could include needs and characteristics of the organisms and habitats involved such as cacti growing in dry, sandy soil but not surviving in wet, saturated soil.
Standard 3.2.6: Design a solution to a problem caused by a change in the environment that impacts the types of plants and animals living in that environment. Define the problem, identify criteria and constraints, and develop possible solutions. Examples of environmental changes could include changes in land use, water availability, temperature, food, or changes caused by other organisms.
Mystery Science Lesson 7 - Environmental Change & Engineering
Standard 3.2.2: Analyze and interpret data to identify patterns of traits that plants and animals have inherited from parents. Emphasize the similarities and differences in traits between parent organisms and offspring and variation of traits in groups of similar organisms.
Mystery Science Lesson 4 - Trait Variation, Inheritance, & Artificial Selection
Mystery Science Lesson 5 - Trait Variation, Natural Selection, & Survival
Standard 3.2.3: Construct an explanation that the environment can affect the traits of an organism. Examples could include that the growth of normally tall plants is stunted with insufficient water or that pets given too much food and little exercise may become overweight.
Mystery Science Lesson 8 - Traits & Environmental Variation
Standard 3.2.4: Construct an explanation showing how variations in traits and behaviors can affect the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce. Examples of traits could include large thorns protecting a plant from being eaten
or strong smelling flowers to attracting certain pollinators. Examples of behaviors could include animals living in groups for protection or migrating to find more food.
Mystery Science Lesson 6 - Animal Groups and Survival
Standard 3.2.5: Engage in argument from evidence that in a particular habitat (system) some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. Emphasize that organisms and habitats form systems in which the parts depend upon each other. Examples of evidence could include needs and characteristics of the organisms and habitats involved such as cacti growing in dry, sandy soil but not surviving in wet, saturated soil.
Standard 3.2.6: Design a solution to a problem caused by a change in the environment that impacts the types of plants and animals living in that environment. Define the problem, identify criteria and constraints, and develop possible solutions. Examples of environmental changes could include changes in land use, water availability, temperature, food, or changes caused by other organisms.
Mystery Science Lesson 7 - Environmental Change & Engineering
Resources
The Story of Fido's Physical Traits Video
Cell Differentiation Video
Energy Pyramids
Inheritance of Traits Articles
Learn Genetics
Plant Adaptation to Wyoming Rangeland Video
Underwater Astonishment Adaptation
Cell Differentiation Video
Energy Pyramids
Inheritance of Traits Articles
Learn Genetics
Plant Adaptation to Wyoming Rangeland Video
Underwater Astonishment Adaptation
