Chatfield 1

Meghan Chatfield
The Way Life Works
Lesson Plan Genetics Introduction
Fourth Grade
The object of the Genetics Lesson is to inform the about genetics, the Punnett
square, and inheritance. The Topics to be discussed today include inherited traits,
acquired traits, DNA, genes, genetic variation, mutations, genotype, phenotype,
heredity, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant genes, recessive genes, incomplete
dominance, co-dominance, chromosomes, alleles, and Punnett squares. We are also
going to go over a very important scientist named Gregor Mendel who is considered
the father of genetics.
SOL: Life Processes
4.4
The student will investigate and understand basic plant anatomy and life
processes. Key concepts include
b)
processes and structures involved with reproduction (pollination, stamen,
pistil, sepal, embryo, spore, and seed);
Subject: Genetics
Objectives and Goals:
- To introduce the process of inheritance, inform about the difference between
acquired and inherited traits, and the usage of the Punnett square.
- For students to be able identify:
o DNA
o Genes
o Heredity
o Inherited traits
o Acquired traits
o Genetic variation
o Mutations
o Gregor Mendel
o Genotype
o Chromosomes
o Alleles
o Phenotype
o Dominant genes
o Recessive genes
o Incomplete dominance
o Co-dominance
o Punnett squares
Anticipatory Set:
- Short verbal introduction of genetics, discussing how all living organisms get
characteristics (traits) from their parents (including animals and plants).
- Ask a few general questions to get students actively engaged in the lesson
about what students might have acquired from their own parents.

Chatfield 2
Direct Instruction:
- Promethean slide or power point slide (if promethean board is not available)
discussing genetics and inheritence.
o Promethean boards are actively spreading to public schools around the
United States and is a great teaching tool. Promethean boards create
fun and interactive instructive lesson presentations; easy use, visually
attractive, interactive activities, and includes help new technological
features. Students are always eager to volunteer to come up and use
the promethean board to answer questions. Many schools now have
afterschool programs to train school teachers how to use this
technology.
Source 1: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/30769/uniquely-you#.UG0dLFGQnIc (An account and the
promethean computer program is necessary to download these
presentations)
Source 2: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/33524/punnett-squares#.UG0fUlGQnIc
Source 3: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/26067/cells-genetics-basic#.UG0c8FGQnIc
Source 4: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/42847/inherited-acquired-traits#.UG0czlGQnIc
Souce 5: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/enus/Resources/Item/32108/genetics#.UG0dnlGQnIc
Power Point Presentation
Source 5, Slide 9: DNA
o Discuss the structure of DNA
Source 1, Slide 1: Uniquely You!
o Discuss how everyone is different in their own
special way and many people look similar to their
parents.
Source 3, Slide 4-6: DNA
o Discuss where DNA is located in the cell.
o Discuss the importance of DNA and how the
students received the make-up of their DNA from
their mom and dad.
Source 1, Slide 9-10: Heredity
o Let the students think about if they look like any of
their relatives.
o Go over what heredity means
Source 1, Slide 10, 12, 14 and Source 4, Slide 3, 5, 14:
Inherited vs. Acquired traits
o Go over the difference between Inherited and
Acquired traits and then identify some examples of
each.
Source 5, Slide 7,8: Gregor Mendel
o Discuss his contribution to the heredity field of
study.
Source 1, Slide 16 and Source 5, Slide 5: Chromosomes
o Discuss the structure of the chromosomes

Chatfield 3
Discuss chromosomes, how many each cell in a
human has, and how many a student get from their
mom and their dad (23 from each).
Source 5, 10-End:
o The rest of this power point is very well done with
interactive activities to cover the rest of the topics
listed above (suggestion: Make a worksheet to go
along with slides 10 and 11).
o

Guided Practice:
- Interactive promethean slide or white board; having students come up and
answer questions to a short interactive quiz and Punnett square practice.
(allow students to come up)
o Source 2, Slide 5-6: Punnett Square Practice
These slides include practice Punnett squares to fill out as a
class.
o Source 2, Slide 9-10: Punnett Square Practice
Independent Practice:
- Have students fill out the following worksheets on Punnett squares and
inheritance(attached at the end)
o http://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=ht
tp%3A%2F%2Fgensonscience.wikispaces.com%2Ffile%2Fview
%2FPunnett_square_worksheet.doc&ei=8yttUIWNLcur0AHnl4GACA&us
g=AFQjCNFNupicyOaynftpR1vYIlfJwicUiQ
Required Materials and Equipment:
- Promethean board
- Computer
- Promethean software
- White board (if promethean board is not available)
- Paper
- Pencils
- Worksheets
Assessment and Follow-Up:
- The independent practice in this lesson can be used as a formal assessment.
http://k6educators.about.com/od/lessonplanheadquarters/a/lptemplate.htm
The introductory lesson above has the objective of giving the students a better
understanding of the inheritance process and its importance to genetics. The
Genetics lesson includes the three major types of learning; auditory (interactive
lecture), visual (promethean slide, worksheets, and short interactive questions), and
kinesthetic (interactive promethean board components and worksheet). This lesson
directly correlates with the expectations of students knowledge in the Fourth grade
Life Processes SOL section B, which states The student will investigate and
understand basic genetic and inheritance processes. Key concepts include
processes and structures involved with reproduction. My higher level learning will

Chatfield 4
help me in the delivery of this level of education in multiple ways to reach the
widest audience of different types of learners. Since my high education has given
me vast knowledge on this subject my lesson plan can be very flexible in the
misfortune of interruption or set-backs. I have a deep understanding and reasoning
of the role genetics plays in living organisms (not only plants, but also animals), the
parts in the inheritance process, the difference between dominant and recessive
alleles, and an understanding of the genotypes that form to produce certain
phenotypes. If students seem to have trouble grasping a concept I have the ability
to try to convey information in an alternative way. Also, in result of my education I
can relate basic scientific facts and information to everyday life, so students can
make connections to a subject instead of settling for a when am I ever going to use
this attitude. In addition, I can also apply basic concepts to fascinating stories or
current research to keep the interest of students in the classroom.