FLEX Gregor Mendel, Genetics, and DNA

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Patricia Valdez Certified Teacher
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(181)
This Science course will teach students about Gregor Mendel, the father of Genetics and he how he laid a foundation to the discovery of DNA through the book Gregor Mendel "The Friar Who Grew Peas".

Class experience

US Grade 3 - 6
16 lessons//4 Weeks
 Week 1
Lesson 1
Mendel's Childhood
-Students will obtain the text and read his life as a child. This book does not have page numbers so I will describe the picture page where you will stop reading.
Lesson 2
Mendelian Art
-Students will be presented with a Gregor Mendel coloring sheet sketch of the man. Students will complete comprehension worksheets to reinforce learning from the story.
Lesson 3
Video Reinforcements
-Students will be assigned videos on Mendel's life to reinforce reading about his life. They learn to differentiate Nature and Nurture in a game.
Lesson 4
Play and Learn
-They will learn to differentiate Nature and Nurture in the game Mendel's Park. https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/genetics/a-nature-and-nurture-walk-in-mendel-park -Students will play the "Ask me." game where the student asks three questions. Each student will peer access each other's knowledge of Mendel's childhood. Asynchronous interaction is necessary to complete this game through the classroom portal.
 Week 2
Lesson 5
Life of a Friar
-Students will learn the life of a friar in medieval times. They will learn his reason for becoming a monk in his time. T
Lesson 6
Pedigree Chart Reading
-Students will learn why he loved tending to the garden and making accurate records, using a pedigree chart. Students will learn why record-keeping is so important. I will direct them to learn how to do a simple pedigree chart through a YouTube video.
Lesson 7
Hereditary Traits
Students will play "What's your family like?" For example, "I have a dad with blue eyes and a mom with brown eyes, who has parents with blue eyes only?” This will get them thinking and learn about their peers and hereditary traits.
Lesson 8
Your Family's Pedigree
Students will design a pedigree chart of a simple hereditary trait. For ex. eye color or hair color.
 Week 3
Lesson 9
Life of a Botanist Reading Analysis
-After reading more of the story students will play the High Five game. They will each come up with five questions after reading the story and let their peers answer their five questions. They can give a letter to a keyword to hint at what the answer may be. Asynchronous interaction is necessary to complete the activity through the classroom portal.
Lesson 10
Parts of a Plant and Flower
They will learn the parts of a plant; specifically the flower through cutout and coloring activity sheets.
Lesson 11
Punnett Square Ping Pong
Then students will learn through YouTube videos how to do a simple Punnett square just like Mendel did with his peas. One fun activity is Ping-Pong Punnett squares. Each student will be assigned specific genetic traits and figure the results using Punnett squares. They can challenge their classmates by composing a Punnett square of their own for their classmates to solve thru the classroom.
Lesson 12
Hereditary Traits
-Students will interact with their peers to get to know what their family member traits. For example, a discussion may begin with, "How many members of your family can roll their tongue?" How many members of your family have a widow's peak" Are there tall people in your family? As they ask each other questions, they will then fill in their family genetic charts.
 Week 4
Lesson 13
Mendel's Laws
Students will fill out and color Mendel's laws and view various YouTube videos that will simplify this.
Lesson 14
Why Peas?
-Students will explain why did Mendel use peas to do his experiments? How did you figure all this out? What is the difference between a monohybrid and a dihybrid cross.
Lesson 15
Dihybrid Crosses
-Students will view a video that will break down how to cross two traits. This may be difficult for young children but at least they will be exposed the the concept.
Lesson 16
Importance of Genetics
Why is Genetics important to our world today? How are we using it? -Students will write or video tape themselves explaining why it's so important to humanity and are there any dangers ahead?
I want students to go away with a curious mind just as Mendel did. It involves their future, too. So learning how Genetics originated is so important for them to understand it's beginnings.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a minor in Art. I am a Certified Secondary Teacher with a lifetime certification in Education from the great state of Texas.  I've been teaching for almost forty years now.  My major is Biology and my minor is Art. I've taught Health, General Science, Physical Science, Genetics, Biology, Advanced Biology, and Forensics worldwide to middle and high school students. 
Homework Offered
Since this is a four week flex class, I do want students to turn in their worksheets to me through the classroom for review. It will not last longer than 30 to 60 minutes long per worksheet. I will respond to their homework via email or video.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
The final assessment is through a paragraph of what they found to be most interesting about Mendel and the science of Genetics. Plus, why is it important to learn? They will be provided special stationery that they can print and submit to the classroom for their peers to review. https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/genetics/make-your-own-genetics-stationery2 Upon completion of the course, the student will receive a printable certificate that they can fill in with their name and store in their portfolios.
Grades Offered
Student needs to be self motivated and able to communicate via the Outschool platform. 
Order the book or check it out from your local library
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529006.Gregor_Mendel?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=24VkGjmU0L&rank=1
or Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Gregor-Mendel-Friar-Grew-Peas/dp/1419718401
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Gregor Mendel by Cheryl Bardoe
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(181)
Profile
Hello, My name is Patricia Valdez. I love teaching! 

I am a wife. I have four sons (who were homeschooled all the way thru to high school) and eight grandchildren. I am bilingual. I speak both English and Spanish.
I enjoy gardening, upcycling and... 
Flex Class

$15

weekly or $58 for 4 weeks
4 weeks

Completed by 1 learner
No live video meetings
Ages 7-12

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