Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Inheritance and variation of traits

Name: Amit Patel

Content Area: Biology

Grade Level: 9 (high school freshman)

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

HS-LS1-4 Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex
organisms.
HS-LS3-1 Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for
characteristics traits passed from parents to offspring.
HS-LS3-2 Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic
combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental
factors.
Big Ideas:
All cells contain genetic information in the form of DNA molecules. Genes are regions of DNA that contain the instructions that
code for the formation of proteins.
In multicellular organisms individual cells grow and then divide via a process called mitosis, thereby allowing the organism to
grow. The organism begins as a single cell (fertilized egg) that divides successively to produce many cells, with each parent cell
passing identical genetic material (two variants of each chromosome pair) to both daughter cells. Cellular division and
differentiation produce and maintain a complex organism, composed of systems of tissues and organs that work together to
meet the needs of the whole organism.
Each chromosome consists of a single very long DNA molecule, and each gene on the chromosome is a particular segment of that
DNA. The instructions for forming species characteristics are carried in DNA. All cells in an organism have the same genetic
content, but the genes used (expressed) by the cell may be regulated in different ways. Not all DNA codes for a protein; some
segments of DNA are involved in regulatory or structural functions, and some have no as-yet known function.
In sexual reproduction, chromosomes can sometimes swap sections during the process of meiosis (cell division), thereby creating
new genetic combinations and thus more genetic variation. Although DNA replication is tightly regulated and remarkably
accurate, errors do occur and result in mutations, which are also a source of genetic variation. Environmental factors can also
cause mutations in genes, and viable mutations are inherited.

Unit Goals and Objectives:

Students will be able to model the role of cellular division (mitosis).

Students will describe the relationship of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from
parents to offspring.
Students will defend a claim that inheritable genetic variation may result from combinations through meiosis, errors during
replication, and mutations caused by environment.
Unit Summary:
In this unit you will learn the difference between mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis being the division of cell for repair, growth, and
development and meiosis being the division of sex cells. Not only will you learn the biological significance of these processes,
you will also learn the actual process of mitosis and meiosis. Each of these processes have phases and you will learn what each
phase is. An important part of learning how humans survive is to learn about how chromosomes code for things like proteins.
Chromosomes are made of DNA and hold instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring. Genetic variation
in organisms can result from new genetic combinations through meiosis, errors during replication, and mutations. New genetic
combinations results from meiosis and the meeting of an egg and a sperm. There are errors that can happen during replication
of a chromosome and those errors can lead to genetic variation. Mutations due to environmental factors is another way genetic
variation may occur.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level: Quick write

Formative: Quiz, Graphic organizer

classroom activity, concept map, exit slip

Summative: Comic strip project, test

Lesson 1
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will be able

Acceptable Evidence:
Students will be able
to complete the

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection

Lesson Activities:
In this lesson students will be taking part in direct
instruction (lecture). Along with the lecture, the students
will have a paper where they are supposed to take guided

to model the role of

cellular division
(meiosis).

guided notes with 100

percent accuracy.

Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

notes. The lecture they are viewing will have at least one
picture per slide and also contain only one main idea per
slide. The guided notes will also contain pictures along with
questions that they students should answer. The lecture and
the guided notes need to be engaging to help keep students
on task. Throughout the lecture students will also take part
in class discussions and group discussions.

Acceptable Evidence:

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson Activities:

Instructional
Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction

Lesson Activities:

Lesson 2
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will defend a
claim that inheritable
genetic variation may
result from
combinations through
meiosis, errors during
replication, and
mutations caused by
environment.

Students are able to

complete the
webercise worksheet
with 100 percent
accuracy.

This lesson will make the use of computers in the classroom.

Each student will get their own Chromebook as well as the
webercise activity sheet. As students visit the websites they
should also be answering questions on the webercise
document. As the teacher I will be going around the
classroom to assist students that need help with either the
computers or the activity. As students are finishing up on
sections of the activity I will lead them in classroom
discussions to further their knowledge on the content. At the
end of the webercise I want to make sure that students are
able to understand that mutations in the genetic code can
lead to advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics.

Lesson 3
Student Learning
Objective:
Students will describe
the relationship of
DNA and
chromosomes in
coding the
instructions for
characteristic traits
passed from parents
to offspring.

Acceptable Evidence:
Students are able to
complete the KWL
chart according to the
rubric.

The KWL chart is mean for students to take home and then
make use of it when they get to class. It can also be used in
the classroom for when students are reading a scientific
paper. In the beginning, before reading students will input
what they already know about the topic. They will need at
least 5 bullet points of information in the section. In the next
section what I want to know it should be filled out before,
during, and after reading. This section should also contain 5
points of information. The last section should be filled out in
class as the teacher is presenting the information in a lecture
or during an activity. The student should also ask the
teacher or their fellow classmates questions about the what
I want to know section. After the student has answers for
their what I want to know section, it should be fully
highlighted.

Unit Resources:
Bozeman Biology This link is to a YouTube channel for a teacher name Mr. Anderson. He has a lot of helpful videos on topics that we
also cover in class. If you are not understanding the reading from your textbook, he is a good resource to help you with the content.
Mitosis quiz Make sure you quiz yourself on information you have learned to make sure you have a good understanding on the content.
If you are quizzing yourself and consistently doing well on the quizzes that means you are ready for the test.
Meiosis quiz - Make sure you quiz yourself on information you have learned to make sure you have a good understanding on the content.
If you are quizzing yourself and consistently doing well on the quizzes that means you are ready for the test.
What types of errors are there? If you are having trouble understanding the different types of errors in DNA, than use this website.

Useful Websites:
Mitosis animation: http://www.johnkyrk.com/mitosis.html
Mitosis game: https://www.centreofthecell.org/learn-play/games/mitosis/
Meiosis animation: http://www.johnkyrk.com/meiosis.html
Meiosis interactive quiz: http://www.biomanbio.com/GamesandLabs/Genegames/snurfle_meiosis_and_genetics.html
Comparison of meiosis and mitosis:
https://highered.mheducation.com/sites/9834092339/student_view0/chapter11/comparison_of_meiosis_and_mitosis.html