Web 2.

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Lesson Idea Name: Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors
Grade Level/Content Area: 5th/Science

Content Standard Addressed: S5L2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information showing that
some characteristics of organisms are inherited, and other characteristics are acquired.

ISTE Technology Standard Addressed:  What would you like students to know and be
Empowered Learner: 1.1.c. Students use technology
to seek feedback that informs and improves their
practice and to demonstrate their learning in a
variety of ways.
able to do by the end of this lesson: 
 Physical traits are inherited from parents.
 The environment plays a role in making a
person who they are.
 Genes contain hereditary information which
is passed from parent to offspring.
 Each parent contributes an equal amount of
hereditary information to the offspring.
 Learned behaviors are not controlled or
inherited through hereditary information.

Students will be able to compare and contrast

inherited and acquired physical traits.

What is the student learning goal(s) for this lesson idea? In this lesson, students will be asking
questions to compare and contrast what’s known instinctually and what can be learned. They will
also question in order to compare and contrast inherited and acquired physical traits.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating ☒

Creating
Students will be designing a new animal and evaluating what is more important to an animal's
survival, inherited traits or learned behaviors.

How do you plan to implement this lesson and integrate the technology? Check all that apply: 
 
☒ Teacher-led: There is no student voice and choice in the activities. Students are guided by
teacher direction and expectations. Learning activities are assigned to the
student and mostly practice based. 
    
☐ Student-Led: Students are given voice and choice in the activities. They may select the topic
of learning and/or determine the tool they will use to meet the learning goal. The
teacher facilitates the learning as the students direct their own learning processes. 
 

Frazier, 2021
 Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration
☒ Problem-based and/or Publishable: Students are solving problems
and completing projects to demonstrate their learning. Additionally, the projects can be shared
outside of the classroom. (Note: This objective could be reached by displaying the project on the
school’s morning newscast, posting the project to the classroom blog, presenting it to another
class, or publishing via an outside source.) 

Lesson idea implementation:

Students will work independently on the Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors Lesson. Teacher will
monitor students as they work providing guidance, answering questions, and providing technological
help as needed.

Hook: Students will watch a video to learn the difference between inherited traits and learned
behaviors. They will then show what they learned by submitting a video sharing one trait they
inherited from their parents and one behavior they have acquired or learned. This will allow the
teacher to assess the students’ prior knowledge.

Lesson:
1. Students will complete an activity sorting inherited traits and learned behaviors. Students
will add their name to respond so teacher will be able to assess how they did. After
completing the activity, students will write a response to discuss if they were surprised at
any of the answers.
2. Students will watch a video of a chameleon. Students will add a comment to answer the
question:  Is this an example of a inherited trait or a learned behavior? Explain.
3. Students will watch a video of a chimpanzee. Students will add a comment to answer the
question:  Is this an example of a inherited trait or a learned behavior? Explain.
4. Students will watch a video about a desert fox and a jerboa. After watching the video,
students will pick one of the animals and tell some of the ways that inherited traits and
learned behaviors help their animal survive.
Assessment: Students will design their own animal using blocks, clay, crayons, or any other medium.
Then students will create a video sharing their animal and answering the following questions:
1. What is an inherited trait? Describe how your animal's inherited traits help it survive.

2. Pick one of your animal's inherited traits. What would happen if your animal did not inherit that
trait? For example, if a giraffe dd not inherit his parents' long neck, he would not be able to eat the
leaves off the trees and would not be able to survive.

3. What are some learned behaviors your animal has acquired?

4. Why do you think your animal needed to learn those behaviors?

5. In your opinion, which is more important to your animal's survival, inherited traits or learned
behaviors? Explain.

Summary: Students will watch at least three other students’ videos and comment on their Flip
video. “Do you agree or disagree with their opinion on which is more important, inherited traits or
learned behaviors, why?”

Frazier, 2021
 Web 2.0 Tools for Communication and Collaboration

Managing student learning: Students will be actively engaged in the lesson adding comments,
videos, and engaging with other students. Students may work with partners to complete the lesson
allowing discussion, cooperative learning, and co-engagement. Teacher should encourage students
to look at other student responses after each activity and having them comment or like a student’s
response.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

Engagement: Students build collaboration and community through the various activities and
resources which optimize challenge and critical thinking.
Representation: Multiple media makes the information in the assignment more comprehensible for
the learners.
Expression: Students will be using multiple media (comments, likes, video, design) to communicate.
Reflective Practice: I believe the use of engaging real-world videos, discussion, and opportunities for
analyze and evaluate in this lesson will be interesting for students and build their understanding of
inherited traits and learned behaviors. This lesson will allow students to apply their knowledge using
critical thinking, communication, and collaboration in ways a traditional lesson could not. I look
forward to seeing the animals the students create and seeing the discussion/debate about which are
more important to an animal’s survival: inherited traits or learned behaviors.

Frazier, 2021