Project 14

Project Overview


Name of Project: Genetics, probability, and punnett squares

Subject/Course: Life Science Teacher: S. Gajewski

Duration: One Week Grade Level: 7th

Project Idea Summary of the issue, challenge, investigation, scenario, or problem:
Students will research basic genetics discovered by Gregor Mendel, the law of probability, and how punnett squares show the percentage of offspring ratios for dominant and recessive trait characteristics in offspring in the first generation-F1 and second generation-F2.

Driving Question
What is the basic probability of five different characteristics of the cabbage white butterfly in the F1 offspring and F2 offspring using the Mendel's basic law of genetics?

CCSS to be taught and assessed:
CC 6, 11,12

21st Century Competencies
Collaboration: Students will work in groups of three.
Creativity & Innovation: Groups will create models of offsprings
Communication (Oral Presentation)

Critical Thinking:
Groups must research probability to discover possible outcome of level one offspring to create a model.

Major Products & Performances
Group: A completed F1 offspring model of a cabbage white butterfly using five characteristics.
Individual: Each student within the groups will completely answer set one research questions. Each students will also complete set two: punnett square probability chart.

Presentation Audience
Class
Other: Group members

Entry Event to launch inquiry and engage students:
Teacher will show a video clip from Discovery Education on the cloned sheep that survived the cloning process. Teacher will ask the students "If you could be cloned, what good or bad things do you believe will happen if you were cloned?" Students will respond openly in a class discussion forum.

Assessments
Formative Assessments (During Project)
Journal/Learning Log
Notes
Checklists

Summative Assessments (End of Project)
Written Product(s), with rubric: Punnett Square probability chart
Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with rubric: Cabbage White Butterfly F1 caterpillar

Resources Needed
Materials: Paper, writing utensil, student brains, marshmallows, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, and M & M's.

Reflection Methods (Individual, Group, and/or Whole Class)
Journal/Learning Log
Whole-Class Discussion


PROJECT CALENDAR


Project: Mendel's Genetics, Probability, and Punnett Squares

Notes: Students will create a caterpillar using probability of characteristics of dominant and recessive traits.

Monday
Teacher will introduce Gregor Mendel’s work with genetics. Teacher will discuss what genetics means.
Students will complete a research assignment on basic process of trait transference from parent to offspring

Tuesday
Teacher will review basic meanings of genetics. Teacher will introduce and discuss probability using sports references. Teacher will discuss how probability functions in genetics. Teacher and students will complete a probability chart with several traits.

Wednesday
Teacher will introduce the common genetic traits of the cabbage white butterfly to students. Students and teacher will evaluate all dominant and recessive traits of this species. Teacher and students will create punnett squares to test probability of butterfly traits.

Thursday
Teacher will show a sample of a completed offspring caterpillar using 3 completed punnett squares per dominant trait of the butterfly. Students will work in groups to find the average probability of cabbage butterflies to discover what offspring will look like.

Friday
Students will use the following supplies to create their F1 cabbage butterfly offspring to display for breeding of F2 generation matting: marshmallows, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, small colored marshmallows, and M & M’s.


PBL Essential Elements Checklist


Whatever form a project takes, it must have these Essential Elements to meet BIE’s definition of PBL.
Does the Project . . .? ?

YES NO

FOCUS ON SIGNIFICANT CONTENT
At its core, the project on Genetics of Cabbage White Butterfly offspring is focused on teaching students important knowledge and skills, derived from standards and key concepts at the heart of academic subjects.

DEVELOP 21st CENTURY SKILLS
Students build skills valuable for today’s world in the science and medical fields of study, such as critical thinking/problem solving, collaboration, and communication, which are taught and assessed.

ENGAGE STUDENTS IN IN-DEPTH INQUIRY
Students are engaged in a rigorous, extended process of asking questions, using resources, and developing answers while creating a possible prospect of probability in offspring.

ORGANIZE TASKS AROUND A DRIVING QUESTION
Project work is focused by an open-ended question regarding Genetics and probability that students explore or that captures the task they are completing.

ESTABLISH A NEED TO KNOW
Students see the need to gain knowledge, understand concepts, and apply skills in order to answer the Driving Question regarding Mendel’s Law of Genetics and the process of probability between dominant and recessive traits in offspring and are able to create project products, beginning with an Entry Event that generates interest and curiosity.

ENCOURAGE VOICE AND CHOICE
Students are allowed to make some choices about the products to be created, how they work, and how they use their time, guided by the teacher and depending on age level and PBL experience.

INCORPORATE REVISION AND REFLECTION
The project includes processes for students to use feedback to consider additions and changes that lead to high-quality products, and think about what and how they are learning.

INCLUDE A PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Students present their work to other people, beyond their classmates and teacher.