Science 6-8 DNA

Science 6-8 DNA

Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 

Text-Dependent Questions:

  • What evidence does the author provide to support the idea that DNA can be compared to a ladder?
  • After reading the passage that illustrates the connection between traits and genes, explain that connection in your own words, citing evidence from the text.
  • The author makes a claim that mutations result in diseases; do mutations always result in disease? Why or why not?
  • Support your claim with evidence from the text.

Activity/Task Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 

Scaffolding and support for special education students, English language learners, and struggling readers:

  • Students with learning difficulties can be paired with seat partners who can read and perform at a higher level. These partners can then be available for prompting and peer editing purposes.
  • Portions of the article are already chunked into smaller sizes for close reading exercises.
  • Essential vocabulary is identified by italics within the article; a list of these terms can be provided in addition to the article.
  • This list will allow the students to be certain that they are placing the appropriate emphasis on the relevant terms.
Interdisciplinary opportunities: 

This task would be appropriate for a 7th grade science course. The following standards are addressed:

  • GLE 0707.4.3 Explain the relationship among genes, chromosomes, and inherited traits.
  • SPI 0707.4.3 Describe the relationship among genes, chromosomes, and inherited traits.