Concrete+Lesson+Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is for you to create a lesson that allows the student have a concrete experience with your assigned abstract biological concept. Be sure to use the BSC 307 5 E lesson plan template provided and to consult the rubric provided if you have questions about grading.

In case you need any of the content presented in class, review the in-class presentation and teaching materials.



=Concrete Lessons:=

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The purpose of this lesson is to help students discover the exceptions to Mendel's Laws that occur during genetics transmission. Students create baby Reebops and discover 6 common exceptions in Mendelian genetics patterns. This lesson is originally based on Patti Sodergberg's "Reebops: A model "organism" for teaching genetics concepts". This adaptation takes Reebops to another level in illustrating not just the transmission of traits, but higher level concepts in genetic transmission.====== Additional Resources:

** It's Good to be Different ** - by Brandon Parrott, Frank Savaglio, and Kathy Rossetti In this lesson the students will complete a short game in order to show the importance of genetic variation with in populations. The game will allow the students to see that if a population is genetically the same there is a chance that one disease or change in the environment can wipe out the entire population. After completing the game the students will have to complete a worksheet.




 * Natural Selection, Evolution, & Snarfunkles!** - Lauren Clayton, Kari Free, Lauryn Funteas

This lesson introduces students to the process of natural selection by engaging them in a hands on activity where they play the roles of the different types of Snarfunkels: an imaginary creature with different beak types. We start the lesson with suspense, telling the students about the Snarfunkel creatures that have invaded planet Earth. They then participate in groups, competing with group members to capture the largest number of beans. The beak types that capture the fewest beans go extinct, demonstrating differences in survival and reproduction. Students then complete a worksheet together that applies the hands-on activity to the abstract concept of natural selection.




 * A Slice of History -** Max, Nicole, Jill

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the structure of DNA through different media. These include an introduction of a short video describing and naming the structure of DNA. Followed by the building of a DNA puzzle (model) in order to save a piece of history. From this they will also learn about the scientists that discovered the structure of DNA. This activity is extended to DNA extraction of strawberries in which students will be able to see actual DNA.


 * Materials:





Spinning the Ecoweb - Sam, Ashley, and Tim **This lesson introduces the idea of ecosystems by through student discovery. The students will watch a short video on grasslands. The students will then be given an ecosystem where they need to research the living and non living components and draw their creation of the ecosystem. The follow up activity will be a class-wide one where they will "spin the web" of an ecosystem, connecting all the aspects of an ecosystem, as well as connecting all the ecosystems together. The students will then write a letter to the Illinois congress explaining the problems and their solutions to conserve the Illinois Prairies.


 * Animals: Concrete lesson- Katie and Lauren

Mendelian Genetics-Kevin, Kyle, Jon

This lesson will help the students discover the Mendel's laws of genetics and the violations of these laws. It does so by having the students become the dragons and parent a new baby dragon. The new baby dragon is created by the genes that the parents pass on to the offspring randomly by dropping Popsicle sticks to simulate chromosomes. This lesson continues on by having the students apply what they know about genetics to genetic diseases. This will result in them writing a paper about a disease that they select.

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