Expand: TRAITS GAME (INHERITED VERSUS LEARNED);
BIRDS SLIDESHOW
KEY CONCEPTS
• Many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents
of the organism, but other characteristics result from an individual's
interactions with the environment.
• The characteristics of an organism can be described in terms of
a combination of traits.
• Heredity is the passage of these instructions from one generation
to another.
• Breeds are genetic units.
• Explore the benefits of diversity.
• Students recognize similarities and differences in individuals,
families, and groups.
SUMMARY
Students realize that the life cycle of the chicken is the beginning
of the story for a breed. Breeds are genetic units. The single individual
chicken came from a family, which belongs to a group of similar individuals
called a breed. In order for that type of creature (that breed of chicken)
to continue in the web of life on earth, that individual chicken needs
other members of it's kind with whom to breed and reproduce.
MATERIALS NEEDED
InheritEnviro.pdf
DIRECTIONS
TRAITS GAME
1. Call in two volunteers. Have them act out two traits of an animal.
Ask the class if this trait is inherited or learned. For example, "These
are two Milking Devon cattle. Here is one, standing on four legs, grazing
in the field. " Is having four legs a trait they inherited or did
those legs form as a result of the cows environment? (inherited). Here
is another Milking Devon. He is harnessed up (pretend) and ready to
pull a plow. Is pulling a plow a trait he inherited or did he learn
it as a result of the his environment (living on a farm that uses plow
animals)? (result of environment)
2. After doing some or all of the suggested list, students can come
up with their own examples to perform for/with peers.
3. Write or draw some examples of your own.
