LS.Heredity

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III. LIFE SCIENCE SITES

3. HEREDITY

Elementary
Benchmark 1 "Give evidence that characteristics are passed from parents to young."

Microscopes, Cells, DNA, and You - Classification Bingo - Heredity (III.3.E.1) New

This activity can be used as an "ice breaker" for the first class session as well as a lead into the concepts of traits and characteristics included in future hereditary activities. Students are handed a bingo chart and are told to meet people and to get a Bingo by adding people's names to their chart. Students will walk around the room and ask each other questions in order to put their names in the squares that qualify for both categories on the side and top of the chart. ( Attached ears, curled tongue, brown eyes, curly hair etc.)

Microscopes, Cells, DNA, and You - Trait Tree - Heredity (III.3.E.1) New

Create a Key Tree using this drawing as a model. Post Key Tree in the front of the room. Each student receives a construction paper cut-out of a leaf. Students choose partners. Each student will write the name of his/her partner on their leaf. Students will use the "Key Tree" to identify their partner based on gender, hair color and texture, and eye color. Students will place their leaf near the smallest branch that matches their partners characteristics.

Nature and Nurture - Heredity (III.3.E.1) New

This site offers a number of interactive activities for upper elementary students. People can be described in terms of their traits. Some traits are inherited and others result from interactions with the environment. In these lessons, students begin to develop an understanding of the role played by nature (our genes) and nurture (the environment in which we live and the things that happen to us) in defining who we are and what it means to be human.Without talking specifically about genes and DNA, the simple Internet experiences at the heart of these lessons (A Nature and Nurture Walk in Mendel Park) can help elementary students begin to develop the understandings that will lead to more in-depth studies at the middle-school and high-school level.

The Gene Pool - Heredity and Probability - Heredity (III.3.E.1) New
Students will simulate Mendel's experiments by substituting coins for plant characteristics. Students will then compare what they expected with what actually happened The site provides a link to "Variations Among Individuals", in which they will do a sampling to study variations among individuals of a species, then compare and make predictions about variations using graphs.

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Middle School

Benchmark 1 "Describe how the characteristics of living things are passed on through generations."

Biology Lessons at SDSU - Heredity (III.3.MS.1)

This site provides a great deal of information on mitosis. There is an activity section, glossary and an alternative ideas section. Good diagrams of the process of cell division, chromosomes and genetic information.

DNA from the Beginning - - Heredity (III.3.MS.1)

This site is an animated primer on the basics of DNA, genetics, and heredity. Animations, biographies and other related links makes this a good resource site.

Genetics Kids' Style - Heredity (III.3.MS.1) New

Prof. Gene will take students (age 9-12) on a tour of the meaning of genetics. They will learn about the history of genetics, and operations of DNA and chromosomes. Glossary terms are provided as well as a short quiz and a crossword puzzle designed for printing. This is a fun, informational, and interactive site.

Genetic Science Learning - Heredity (III.3.MS.1&2) New

Online and hands-on activities for grades 7-12 can be found on this site. Teacher thematic units as well as parent information enhance this site. As the body's main building blocks, stem cells work to develop, maintain, and repair tissues and organs throughout life. Find out why medical researchers are so interested in these cells and consider some of the challenges in stem cell research.

I Can Do That - Heredity (III.3.MS.1&2) New

This site has a story line version of the genetic science benchmarks. Students will enjoy learning how dna works and how genes jump around on the chromosome.

Benchmark 2 "Describe how heredity and environment may influence/determine characteristics of an organism."

A Nature and Nurture Walk in Mendel Park - Heredity (III.3.MS.2) New

Students can choose activities happening in a park and decide if these activities have been influenced by nature or by both nature and nurture. This is a fun activity with good explanations for lower middle school.

Genetic Science Learning - Heredity (III.3.MS.1&2) New

Online and hands-on activities for grades 7-12 can be found on this site. Teacher thematic units as well as parent information enhance this site. As the body's main building blocks, stem cells work to develop, maintain, and repair tissues and organs throughout life. Find out why medical researchers are so interested in these cells and consider some of the challenges in stem cell research.

Going, Going, Gone - Heredity (III.3.MS.2) New

This site gives general information of 5 causes of extinction with limited examples. Could be used as a quick reference for students.

I Can Do That - Heredity (III.3.MS.1&2) New

This site has a story line version of the genetic science benchmarks. Students will enjoy learning how dna works and how genes jump around on the chromosome.

What is Inheritance? - Heredity (III.3.MS.2)

Outstanding - This is a Plug In Movie that gives general information about heredity and has excellent animations to go along with the descriptions. Students can click through the movie. You can find this excellent presentation by clicking on "What is Inheritance?...".

You and Your Genes - Heredity (III.3.MS.2) New

An overview of genes and the role they play in our lives. Subtitles include "Designer Genes- They're the Boss", "Where did you get your pairs of genes?" and "Typos and Misplaced Letters." This site briefly discusses both the human genome project and the environmental genome projects (has links for both) by explaining how human genes play a role in how we react to environmental substances.

High School

Benchmark 1 "Explain how characteristics of living things are passed on from generation to generation."

DNA From the Beginning - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3)

"DNA From the Beginning" is an animated primer on the basics of DNA, genes, and heredity. The site is organized around key concepts. The science behind each concept is explained by: animation, image gallery, video interview, problem solving, biographies, and links to other sites.

Do You Have a Pedigree? - Heredity (III.3.HS.1)

In this activity, students examine themselves for a genetic trait know to be controlled by a single pair of genes that are either dominate or recessive. They then construct a pedigree chart for their family.

Ewe 2: A Case Study ? Introduction - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3) New

This site presents a case study activity for teaching about heredity. The activity centers around the moral ethical dilemma around cloning. This site is very comprehensive including everything a teacher would need to do this activity with their class.

Genetic Science Learning Center - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3)

The Genetic Science Learning Center involves four categories for exploration: basic genetics, genetic disorders, genetics in society, and genetic thematic units. Each site includes the following areas of study: general information, on-line and hands-on activities, experiments/lab protocols, and group activities.

I Can Do That - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3) New

This site has a story line version of the genetic science benchmarks. Students will enjoy learning how dna works and how genes jump around on the chromosome.

Morgan: A Genetics Tutorial (D.N.A. Tutorial) - Heredity (III.3.HS.1&2)

The Morgan Homepage is a multimedia D.N.A. tutorial that covers the basic principles of genetics, suitable for an advanced high school class. An excellent site for students to reference in order to solve problems presented by the instructor. An in-depth, comprehensive source capable of covering all three benchmarks. Requires Netscape and downloadable plug-in.

Mouse Genetics -Heredity (III.3.HS.1)

This is an interactive site for students to calculate probability with coin tosses. They use statistics and then are able to go to the mouse house to see dominate and recessive crosses.

Mendelian Genetics -Heredity (III.3.HS.1)

A review site of Mendel which allows students to interact and solve problems with accompanying tutorials. This reviews Mendel's principles and you are accessed to the Virtual Fly Lab.

OLogy: All About Cloning - Heredity (III.3.HS.1) New

This is a site about cloning and that famous ewe, Dolly. The site includes a very good visual description of the cloning process that students are so often curious about.

OLogy: DNA Detective - Heredity (III.3.HS.1) New

This simple site has two parts that help to teach about DNA Fingerprinting. The first is a fictitious storyabout a scientist using DNA to identify an organism. The second part is a DNA matching game.

OLogy: The Gene Scene - Heredity (III.3.HS.1) New

The site has several students activities that help to teach the heredity benchmarks. Activities include a tree of life cladogram, DNA fingerprinting story and game, a nature vs. nurture game and more.

OLogy: The Science Scoop ? The Human Genome Project - Heredity (III.3.HS.1)New

A web presentation on the human genome project that provides introductory information. This site is very student friendly.

The Dolan DNA Learning Center: Gene Almanac - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3)

This is a science center devoted entirely to public genetics education. Offers news and information about resources, workshops, and programs. An operating unit of ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory.

Benchmark 2 "Describe how genetic material is passed from parent to young during sexual and asexual reproduction."

DNA From the Beginning - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3)

"DNA From the Beginning" is an animated primer on the basics of DNA, genes, and heredity. The site is organized around key concepts. The science behind each concept is explained by: animation, image gallery, video interview, problem solving, biographies, and links to other sites.

Ewe 2: A Case Study ? Introduction - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3) New

This site presents a case study activity for teaching about heredity. The activity centers around the moral ethical dilemma around cloning. This site is very comprehensive including everything a teacher would need to do this activity with their class.

Genetic Science Learning Center - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3)

The Genetic Science Learning Center involves four categories for exploration: basic genetics, genetic disorders, genetics in society, and genetic thematic units. Each site includes the following areas of study: general information, on-line and hands-on activities, experiments/lab protocols, and group activities.

I Can Do That - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3) New

This site has a story line version of the genetic science benchmarks. Students will enjoy learning how dna works and how genes jump around on the chromosome.

Morgan: A Genetics Tutorial (D.N.A. Tutorial) - Heredity (III.3.HS.1&2)

The Morgan Homepage is a multimedia D.N.A. tutorial that covers the basic principles of genetics, suitable for an advanced high school class. An excellent site for students to reference in order to solve problems presented by the instructor. An in-depth, comprehensive source capable of covering all three enablers. Requires Netscape and downloadable plug-in.

The Biology Project - Blackett DNA Activity - Heredity (III.3.HS.2&3)

This website provides students with information and activities on maternity and paternity testing, how investigators use DNA to find a missing person, and how you can construct a pedigree. Some of the terms are a little technical, but there is a lot of information for support. Also, at the bottom of the page you can choose "Human Biology", which includes two activities of Karotyping, blood typing, and links to other sites including the Center for Disease Control.

The DNA Learning Center - Heredity (III.3.HS.1,2&3)

This is a science center devoted entirely to public genetics education. Offers news and information about resources, workshops, and programs. An operating unit of ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory.

Benchmark 3 "Explain how new traits may arise in individuals through changes in genetic material (DNA)."