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LS G3:M2:U1

Constructing Explanations and Arguments: Inheritance, Variation, and Frog Ponds: Unit 1

Lesson 1Anchoring Phenomenon for Inherited Traits

Agenda Daily Learning Targets Ongoing Assessment Anchor Charts & Protocols

Total Time: 1.5 hours of instruction

Section 1

1. Opening

A. Reviewing Learning Target (5 minutes)

B. Launching Student Science Notebooks (10 minutes)

Optional Extension: Personalizing My Notebook

2. Obtaining Information

A. Launching the Anchoring Phenomenon (10 minutes)

B. Reading Aloud: Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle (15 minutes)

C. Creating Body Graphs of Traits (20 minutes)

D. Viewing Diversity of Organisms Slideshow (15 minutes)

Optional Extension: Body Graph Bar Graph

Optional Extension: Local aquatic organism biodiversity

3. Asking Questions

A. Scientists Meeting: Gathering Ideas (15 minutes)

  • Scientists Meeting: Gathering Ideas
  • Student science notebook: Anchoring Phenomenon for Inherited Traits entry

Lesson 2Variation Among Siblings

Agenda Daily Learning Targets Ongoing Assessment Anchor Charts & Protocols

Total Time: 1.5 hours of instruction

Section 1

1. Opening

A. Reviewing Learning Targets and Focusing Question (10 minutes)

2. Analyzing and Interpreting Data

A. Identifying Patterns in Animals’ Traits (15 minutes)

B. Poster Session: Frog Siblings (15 minutes)

Section 2

1. Analyzing and Interpreting Data

A. Identifying Patterns in Plants’ Traits (25 minutes)

2. Constructing Explanations

A. Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding (25 minutes)

  • Student science notebook: Variation Among Siblings entry
  • Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding

Lesson 3Life Cycles

Agenda Daily Learning Targets Ongoing Assessment Anchor Charts & Protocols

Total Time: 3 hours of instruction

Section 1

1. Opening

A. Reviewing Focusing Question and Learning Targets (10 minutes)

2. Developing a Model

A. Modeling Life Cycle of a Frog (25 minutes)

      • Optional Extension: Raise Tadpoles
      • Optional Extension: Video Study

Section 2

1. Obtaining and Communicating Information

A. Reading Closely: Animals (30 minutes)

B. Modeling Life Cycles of Animals (10 minutes)

      • Optional Extension: Rock, Paper, Scissors Life Cycle Game

Section 3

1. Obtaining and Communicating Information

A. Obtaining Information about Plants (25 minutes)

B. Modeling the Life Cycle of Plants (10 minutes)

      • Optional Extension: Plant Life Cycle Relay Challenge
      • Optional Extension: Water Lily Study
      • Optional Extension: Flower Dissection
      • Optional Extension: Fruiting Body and Seed Study

Section 4

1. Communicating Information

A. Reviewing Learning Targets (10 minutes)

B. Poster Session: Life Cycles (30 minutes)

C. Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding (30 minutes)

  • Student science notebook: Life Cycle entry
  • Plant and Animal Life Cycle models
  • Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding
  • Exit Ticket: Life Cycle

Lesson 4Inheritance of Traits

Agenda Daily Learning Targets Ongoing Assessment Anchor Charts & Protocols

Total Time: 2.5 hours of instruction

Section 1

1. Opening

A. Reviewing Learning Target and Focusing Question (10 minutes)

2. Carrying Out an Investigation

A. Finding Frog Mates (20 minutes)

3. Obtaining Information

A. Reading about Inheritance (30 minutes)

Section 2

1. Constructing an Explanation

A. Creating Frog Offspring after the Pattern of Inheritance (25 minutes)

B. Back-to-Back and Face-to-Face: Constructing an Explanation (20 minutes)

Section 3

1. Evaluating and Communicating Information

A. Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding (30 minutes)

B. Returning to the Life Cycle Diagram (15 minutes)

  • Student science notebook: Inheritance of Traits entry
    • Constructing an Explanation: Frog Offspring Possible Inheritance
  • Student science notebook: Life Cycle entry (from Lesson Sequence 3)
    • General Pattern of Life Cycle model
  • Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding

Lesson 5Variation and Survival

Agenda Daily Learning Targets Ongoing Assessment Anchor Charts & Protocols

Total Time: 1.5 hours of instruction

Section 1

1. Opening

A. Reviewing Learning Target and Focusing Question (10 minutes)

2. Constructing Explanations

A. Variation and Camouflage in Bullfrogs (35 minutes)

Section 2

1. Constructing Explanations

A. Flower Variation and Pollination in Water Lilies (25 minutes)

Optional Extension: Additional Pollinator Study

Optional Extension: Water Lily Coffee Filter

B. Constructing an Explanation: Beetles and Water Lilies (10 minutes)

2. Evaluating and Communicating Information

A. Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding (10 minutes)

  • Student science notebook: Variation and Survival entry
    • Water Lily Preference Explanation
  • Scientists Meeting: Building Understanding

Lesson 6Summative Assessment

Agenda Daily Learning Targets Ongoing Assessment Anchor Charts & Protocols

Total Time: 2 hours of instruction

Section 1

1. Opening

A. Reviewing Learning Targets and Guiding Question (5 minutes)

2. Analyzing and Interpreting Data

A. Creating a Paper Bullfrog (25 minutes)

Optional extension: Why My Frog Looks the Way It Does

B. Identifying Variation in Bullfrog Siblings (10 minutes)

3. Constructing Explanations

A. Constructing an Explanation: Noticing Patterns of Inheritance and Variation (35 minutes)

Section 2

1. Constructing an Explanation

A. Testing Bullfrogs in the Lily Pads (10 minutes)

B. Constructing an Explanation: Cause and Effect of Traits (35 minutes)

  • Paper bullfrog offspring
  • Explanation on Inheritance, Variation, and Survivability

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