Grade 3 - 3-LS3 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

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Disciplinary Core Ideas
LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
•  Many characteristics of organisms are inherited from their parents. (3-LS3-1)
• Other characteristics result from individuals’ interactions with the environment, which can range from diet to learning. Many characteristics involve both inheritance and environment. (3-LS3-2)

LS3.B: Variation of Traits
• Different organisms vary in how they look and function because they have different inherited information. (3-LS3-1)
• The environment also affects the traits that an organism develops. (3-LS3-2)

Performance Expectations Students who demonstrate understanding can:
3-LS3-1.  Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.
3-LS3-2. Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
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Use the Template and Resource Links to Fulfill NGSS

l. Goals:

1. Understand that many characteristics of organisms are inherited from their parents.
2. Understand that other characteristics can result from interacting with the environment, i.e. the available foods, the weather, the interactions with other organisms.
3. Understand that some characteristics can result from both inheritance and interacting with the environment.
4. Understand that organisms look and behave differently because they have different inherited characteristics.
5. Understand that an organism’s characteristics may be affected by the environment, i.e. water and food availability, climate change.

Essential Questions:

1. What kinds of characteristics do organisms inherit from their parents?
2. What kinds of characteristics might be affected by their environment?
3. Can you think of characteristics that might be affected by both inheritance and the environment?
4. Why does one organism of the same species look different from another?
5. How can an organism’s characteristics be affected by their environment?

NGSS Note: Think, question, entertain ideas.

ll. Introductory Activities to Assess Prior Knowledge

A. Simple Activities - that assess students’ understanding of inherited characteristics vs. characteristic created by the environment.
Heredity of Traits - Matching

Variation of Traits in Dogs - Matching

Variation of Traits in Pea Plants - Matching

B. Brainstorming Session
Question: Which characteristics (traits) are inherited, created by the environment or both?
    1. Break students down into groups of 3-4.
    2. Ask students to generate a list of which traits are inherited, created by the environment or both.
    3. Discuss

lll. New Knowledge - Text

Read about inherited and environmentally created traits and characteristics:

• Inheritance of Traits (in Bears) - Critical Thinking Activity

• Inheritance and Variation of Traits in Flowers - Authentic Performance

• Variation of Traits in Animals - Authentic Performance

Examples of Models (depicts the concept expressed in the reading):
• Ask students to create a model of inherited traits and environmentally affected traits. They can draw the model or create one using pictures they find online.

Assessment:
       • Traits and Characteristics (Human) - Critical Thinking Activity

lV. Experiments, Activities, Model-making, Media (Critical Thinking)

Inquiry related to Inherited Traits:
• Genetics Activity - Create The Kids
• Variation of Traits in Pea Plants - Matching
• Variation of Traits - Plant Investigation
• Variation of Traits in Animals - Authentic Performance

• Inheritance and Variation of Traits in Flowers - Authentic Performance

V. Summarize Knowledge - Enduring Understandings

1. Many characteristics of organisms are inherited from their parents.
2. Other characteristics can result from interacting with the environment.
3. Some characteristics can result from both inheritance and interacting with the environment.
4. Organisms look and behave differently because they have different inherited characteristics.
5. An organism’s characteristics may be affected by the environment.

Vl. Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) - Grade 3

Disciplinary Core Ideas
LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
•  Many characteristics of organisms are inherited from their parents. (3-LS3-1)
• Other characteristics result from individuals’ interactions with the environment, which can range from diet to learning. Many characteristics involve both inheritance and environment. (3-LS3-2)
LS3.B: Variation of Traits
• Different organisms vary in how they look and function because they have different inherited information. (3-LS3-1)
• The environment also affects the traits that an organism develops. (3-LS3-2)

Science and Engineering Practices (NGSS)

Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Analyzing data in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to introducing quantitative approaches to collecting data and conducting multiple trials of qualitative observations. When possible and feasible, digital tools should be used.
• Analyze and interpret data to make sense of phenomena using logical reasoning. (3-LS3-1)

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to the use of evidence in constructing explanations that specify variables that describe and predict phenomena and in designing multiple solutions to design problems.
•  Use evidence (e.g., observations, patterns) to support an explanation. (3-LS3-2)

Crosscutting Concepts (NGSS)

Patterns
•  Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort and classify natural phenomena. (3-LS3-1)

Cause and Effect
• Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified and used to explain change. (3-LS3-2)

Performance Expectations

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

3-LS3-1.  Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.
  [Clarification Statement: Patterns are the similarities and differences in traits shared between offspring and their parents, or among siblings. Emphasis is on organisms other than humans.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include genetic mechanisms of inheritance and prediction of traits. Assessment is limited to non-human examples.]

3-LS3-2. Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
 [Clarification Statement: Examples of the environment affecting a trait could include normally tall plants grown with insufficient water are stunted; and, a pet dog that is given too much food and little exercise may become overweight.]

Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy 

RI.3.1     Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)
RI.3.2     Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)
RI.3.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)
W.3.2     Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)
SL.3.4     Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)

Mathematics
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)
MP.4 Model with mathematics. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)
3.MD.B.4 Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units—whole numbers, halves, or quarters. (3-LS3-1),(3-LS3-2)