Embedded Files
On this page is all the information you might need to support your learning in this unit. At the top will be helpful links to things like Google Presentations, e-textbooks, vocabulary, YouTube videos and screencasts. Below are pictures of our Interactive Notebook for Biological Diversity. If there is something you would like to see here, let me know!
Google Presentations
Biological Diversity Presentation
Biological Diversity Tracker (live document that may change)
Labs, Assignments & Other Learning Activities
Generalist / Specialist Assignment
Manipulatives for Inheritance Pattern Activity
GMO Assignment (Scaled Down from GMO Project)
Cross-Curricular Projects
Teacher Feedback Forms
Interactive Notebook:
We will be completing a hybrid of Interactive Notebooks and Doodle Notes. All templates created by me are linked above. Anything I have purchased will have a link to the seller on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Watch my Introduction to Biological Diversity video here:
We watch two movies from the Planet Earth video series: Great Plains and Jungles. We will compare and contrast the two in terms of environment, resources, competition and variation in organisms.
Students provide their own examples of Structural and Behavioral Adaptations.
Competition & Symbiosis:
These are both ways that organisms try to meet their basic needs.
We will watch various video clips of symbiosis in order to provide examples.
Using the foldables (to the left) is nice to give students more room to write, but can be a challenge to incorporate. Above is a different template with just the inside Freyer Model info.
Heritability and Reproduction:
Difference between somatic cells and gametes
Relationship between DNA, Genes and Chromosomes
Distinguish between traits that are heritable and those that are not
Want to extract DNA from everyday fruit in your own home? Watch this video to find out how:
Asexual Reproduction Strategies:
Learn examples of different strategies used by simple - complex organisms.
Determine advantages and disadvantages of this type of reproduction.
Sexual Reproduction Strategies Focussing Questions:
Why have living things evolved to reproduce by recombining the DNA from two different mates?
How is cell division different in somatic (body) cells versus in gametes (sex cells)?
What are some ways that living things recombine DNA from multiple donors?
What kinds of reproduction are occuring during various developmental stages in complex organisms such as humans?
How can sexual reproduction provide competitive advantages to different living things?
Are there limitations to relying on sexual reproduction strategies?
Natural Selection:
How does evolution by natural selection occur?
During these discussions we listen to "The Disappearing Spoon" podcast episode: The Unsung Heroes of Darwin's Evolution to get a sense of how Charles Darwin found evidence to support his now confirmed theory.
Artificial Selection / Genetic Engineering
Learn about how artificial selection and selective breeding impact biodiversity.
Introduction to simple genetic engineering techniques.
here is a video to visualize some of these techniques: Genetic Engineering Basics
Dominant and Recessive Inheritance
Learn how this simple form of inheritance can help us predict which traits will show up in the offspring.
Here is a video to help explain this more visually: Dominant Recessive Inheritance
Decreasing Biodiversity and Conservation
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