"Blame My Family"

Learning Context

 

Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to teach the students how to read pedigrees and determine which members of a family possess a certain trait.  The students will then be able to draw pedigrees using their own families or a family they choose to create, and analyze traits within their families.

Enduring Understanding

Pedigrees are used for tracing traits through several generations of a family.

Essential Questions

What makes me part of my family?
What things do family members share?
How are we all similar?

GUIDING QUESTIONS

What is a pedigree?
What can be shown on a pedigree?
What kinds of traits can be looked at in a pedigree?
What do circles represent?  Squares?
What does a vertical line mean?  Horizontal?
How do you know if a family member has a trait?
How can you use punnett squares to determine your traits?

OBJECTIVES

  1. The student will be able to interpret a pedigree.
  2. The student will be able to draw their own family pedigree.
  3. The student will be able to determine their traits by crossing their parents’ traits.
  4. The student will understand the purpose of a pedigree.

Overview of What Students Need to Know

-Read a pedigree
-Understand how traits are passed on
-How to construct a pedigree
-Follow classroom rules and procedures as listed in appendices

Prior to Learning Experience:
            -Know dominant vs. recessive traits
            -Student knows the difference between genotype and phenotype
            -Is able to draw Punnett Squares and perform crosses between parents

 

Classroom Rules

  1. One person speaks at a time.  If you have something to say, raise your hand and wait to be called on.

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  1. The teacher dismisses the class; no leaving before the bell.

 

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  1. Sit down quietly, and be ready to follow directions and start when the bell rings.

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  1. RESPECT!  This means keeping your hands and any items to yourself.

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Letter home

*********ATTENTION PARENTS*********
This week students will be working on Family Pedigrees.  Each student will be looking at his/her individual traits, and creating a pedigree with 3 generations of their families.  They have the option to create a fictional family or use their biological family.  If they choose to use their biological family, they may be asking you about certain traits that you may or may not possess (hair color, eye color, ability to roll your tongue, free or attached earlobes, etc..).  If you do not want to provide your information that is perfectly acceptable.  Your children have already been working hard to learn all the information necessary to create these “genetic family trees”.  I hope you enjoy the finished product.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at aferland@daemen.edu and I will respond as quickly as possible.

Thank you!
Ms. Ferland