Science 6-8 DNA

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.

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.

Originator: