MS-LS3-2 Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation.

MS-LS4-4: Construct an explanation based on evidence (C-E-R) that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing (adaptations-genetic/natural selection) in a specific environment (The Arctic).

Lessons	Time	Type of Activity	Do Now	What we figure out 7E Model	How we represent it
Supplementary Material: My Trait	1 class period	Hands-on Small Groups of 2-4	Do Now: Freckles	Background: Traits are observable characteristics that are passed down from parent to child. Traits explains why the human population is so diverse.	An Inventory of My Traits (pdf) Create a graph of your choice.
Lesson 1: Create a chimera	1 class period	Hands-on What’s the Connection? Intro Art Lesson		Background: Throughout history, artists have depicted animals realistically and fantastically as composite creatures with special powers drawn from their features. These animals are symbolic because of the features the artist has chosen to incorporate.	Art Lesson: Exquisite Corpse How do you get ideas to see dragons in a new way?
Lesson 2: Heredity Lab MS-LS3-2	1-2 class periods	Virtual Activity Individual Creativity Art Lesson	Do Now: Hair Do Now: Eye Color	Background: Introduce students to how traits are traits passed from parents to offspring by introducing them to sexual reproduction through Punnett Squares.	Heredity Lab Heredity Lab Template with class data Art Lesson:  Students create a collage to illustrate a dragon trait
Lesson 3:  Asexual Reproduction MS-LS3-2	1 class period	Hands-on Activity (with Video) Partner Work	Do Now: Pea Plants and Pea Plants (PS)	Background: When organisms reproduce asexually, they produce clones with the same genetic material. There are notable differences between asexual and sexual reproduction which will be explored.	Lab #1: Asexual Reproduction worksheet (pdf) Sexual vs. Asexual reproduction whiteboard animation
Lesson 4: Dragon eggs found in the Arctic! MS-LS3-2	1-2 class periods	Video on de-extinction Survey that individual students fill out using Punnett squares Research using the website: Dragon De-extinction  Research video	Do Now: Asexual Reproduction Do Now: Types of Reproduction	Engage: Introduce the Challenge/Big Question  What type of dragon, based on genotypes, would be the “best fit” to survive in the Arctic? Explore: Investigate dragon adaptations and phenotypes. Fill out “Original Dragon Survey” to record this data.	Dragon De-extinction Website Original Dragon Survey (pdf)  Student-created Punnett squares Back by Isabella Kirkland Add story based on the dragon
Lesson 5:  Research and Modeling for your original dragon MS-LS3-2	2-3 class periods	Research Art Lesson Modeling Art Lesson	Do Now:  Incomplete Dominance	Explain: The original dragon each student will design will be based on genotypes and their corresponding phenotypes.	Research based on observation:  contour drawing using 3-D animal source Students create a grid sampler to represent dragon design. Incorporate a discussion of art along with the science lesson. Explain how when artists work, they first make a sketch to see what they are envisioning. (Use white board, emphasize the sketch)
Lesson 6: Mating your dragon MS-LS3-2	2 class periods	Partner activity	Do Now: Epistasis	Elaborate: Extend student’s thinking by identifying one trait that will help their dragon offspring survive.	Student-created Punnett squares Need the partner worksheet and an explanation in the lesson plan; also dragon offspring worksheet.
Lesson 7: Displaying the offspring MS-LS3-2	2-3 class periods	Communication Art Lesson	Do Now: Colorblindness  Do Now: Albinism & Epistatic	Evaluate: Evaluate the first and second representations of dragon offspring.	Students create artwork that conveys their dragon’s offspring’s characteristics. Encourage students to create a sense of unity, also known as a principle of design, in their artwork by depicting the dragon in its natural environment.
Lesson 8: Perseverance – Stop Motion Animation of Dragon in Action MS-LS4-4	3-4 class periods	Slide show and discussion on classroom catastrophic events Perseverance Art Lesson		Evaluate/Extending: Students practice the transfer of learning. Knowledge is applied in a new context and is not limited to simple elaboration.	Students create stop motion animation using human bodies or clay to illustrate a trait of their dragon offspring.

Go to: Notes for teachers on talking about and assessing artwork