Description
Students commonly learn the parts of a seed and flower for their botany studies. However, we see variety in those parts. Why does this happen? This game can serve as an extension of those lessons by looking at the concept of genetic traits in plant hybrids for our lower elementary students. Two plants of the same species are planted together to promote cross-pollination. The hope is that a hybrid plant will be created with the traits the planter seeks. Typical reasons for cross-pollination include better-tasting fruit, earlier maturation, less care and water needed, and disease resistance.
Punnett squares are diagrams used to predict expressed genotypes from breeding organisms. This diagram is Mendel's visualized work, the foundation for the modern study of genetics. This lesson plan contains a lower and upper elementary version that will help explain how these diagrams are used through games. The students will represent the offspring inheriting the different genotypes, which dictate how they can play the game. This will provide a fun, concrete experience for your students to see how Punnett Squares help predict how traits are passed on from generation to generation.
Materials:
- Playground Ball
- An ample open space (such as a gym or field)
- If you are playing inside, using some of the lines of the gym or rubber disc dots would work to make the boundaries.
- If you are playing outside and have access to a hard cement surface, you can use chalk to draw the boundaries of the foursquare game.
Minimum Amount of Students Needed:
For the lower elementary game, you would want at least eight students. You would want as close to sixteen for the upper elementary game as possible.
You could have as few as four students for the foursquare version, but having several more makes the game more fun.
Prior Knowledge: For lower elementary, the students should have had the lesson on parts of a flower and parts of a seed. For upper elementary and middle school students, it would be nice if they had begun their studies of genetics.
Highlights
Save even more with bundles
Description
Students commonly learn the parts of a seed and flower for their botany studies. However, we see variety in those parts. Why does this happen? This game can serve as an extension of those lessons by looking at the concept of genetic traits in plant hybrids for our lower elementary students. Two plants of the same species are planted together to promote cross-pollination. The hope is that a hybrid plant will be created with the traits the planter seeks. Typical reasons for cross-pollination include better-tasting fruit, earlier maturation, less care and water needed, and disease resistance.
Punnett squares are diagrams used to predict expressed genotypes from breeding organisms. This diagram is Mendel's visualized work, the foundation for the modern study of genetics. This lesson plan contains a lower and upper elementary version that will help explain how these diagrams are used through games. The students will represent the offspring inheriting the different genotypes, which dictate how they can play the game. This will provide a fun, concrete experience for your students to see how Punnett Squares help predict how traits are passed on from generation to generation.
Materials:
- Playground Ball
- An ample open space (such as a gym or field)
- If you are playing inside, using some of the lines of the gym or rubber disc dots would work to make the boundaries.
- If you are playing outside and have access to a hard cement surface, you can use chalk to draw the boundaries of the foursquare game.
Minimum Amount of Students Needed:
For the lower elementary game, you would want at least eight students. You would want as close to sixteen for the upper elementary game as possible.
You could have as few as four students for the foursquare version, but having several more makes the game more fun.
Prior Knowledge: For lower elementary, the students should have had the lesson on parts of a flower and parts of a seed. For upper elementary and middle school students, it would be nice if they had begun their studies of genetics.
