Grade 1:  Heredity

1.LS1.2 Obtain information from media/or text to determine patterns in the behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.

 
1.LS3.1 Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.

In a Nutshell

Students obtain information to determine how animals and plants can have young and how adult plants and animals have certain behaviors that help their offspring to survive. Students make observations and collect evidence that plants’ and animals’ young are like their parents, but not exactly the same. Each offspring can have specific things that are like their parents, but can still have major differences from their parents.

Student Actions

Teacher Actions 

• Gather evidence from media/text to determine that adult plants and animals can have young.

• Make observations that in many kinds of animals, the parents and babies have certain patterns of behavior to help the baby survive.

• Make observations, first hand or through grade appropriate media, to determine that young animals are like their parents, but not exactly the same. 

• Make observations, first hand or through grade appropriate media, to determine that plants are like their parent plant, but not exactly the same.

• Communicate using evidence gathered through observations that young from plants have similarities to their parents that can be seen, but can also have differences.

• Communicate using evidence gathered through observations that young animals have similarities to their parents that can be seen, but can also have differences.  

• Provide opportunities to make observations that in many kinds of animals, the parents and babies have certain patterns of behavior to help the baby survive.

• Provide opportunities and supplies for observations, first hand or through grade appropriate media, to determine that young animals are like their parents, but not exactly the same.

• Provide opportunities to make observations, first hand or through grade appropriate media, to determine that plants are like their parent plant, but not exactly the same.

• Scaffold and assist students in communicating evidence gathered through observations that young plants have similarities and differences when compared to their parents.

• Scaffold and assist students in communicating evidence gathered through observations that young animals have similarities and differences when compared to their parents. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

Growth and Development of Organisms

•  Adult plants and animals can have young.

• In many kinds of animals, parents and the offspring themselves engage in behaviors that help the offspring to survive.

Inheritance of Traits

• Young animals are very much, but not exactly like, their parents. 

• Plants also are very much, but not exactly, like their parents. 

Variation of Traits

• Individuals of the same kind of plant or animal are recognizable as similar but can also vary in many ways.  

• Traits are inherited from only one of the parents.

• Only mammals are animals.

• Students often do not recognize that trees, vegetables, and grass are all plants. 

Instructional Resources 

Unit 4: Heredity