Lesson Plans and Worksheets
As the International Teacher for Miina Härma Gumnaasium in Tartu, Estonia, I teach classes in English that include children from Estonia, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and even Pakistan besides Britain and the United States. Lesson Planet helps me find many worksheets and lessons that feature hands-on activities, good graphic organizers, clear, simple language and diagrams, step-by-step math explanations. It is basically very useful for helping a teacher with a largely ESL population. Moreover, I must develop my own teaching materials since I follow the Estonian national curriculum PLUS the national standards of the students, which can be difficult to reconcile together -- never mind, trying to find a textbook that suits (and, I might add, English-language texts are not easily obtainable here).
- Wakefield, RI
- 03-28-12
Chromosomes Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Chromosomes educational resource ideas and activities
After teaching about the process of meiosis, use this presentation to inform your biology buffs of problems that can possibly occur. Gene mutation is mentioned as a review, and then different forms of chromosome mutation are explored: nondisjunction, deletion, inversion, duplication, and translocation. The use of a karyotype for identifying these problems is explained. It would be ideal to follow this presentation with a karyotype activity.
Students are introduced to mapping by crossover frequency. Genes travel as packaged trains on chromosomes. They use this experiment, genetic mapping assignment, that allow students to quickly complete the assignment and yet examine the concepts of a simple map.
What do Ninja Turtles and Spiderman have in common? Hollywood has displayed them as the results of mutation. Biology whizzes take a look at real mutations in fruit flies, and then learn the difference between gene mutation and chromosomal mutation. They survey different meiosis errors resulting in nondisjunction, deletion, inversion, duplication, or translation of chromosomes. They view male and female human karyotypes. This comprehensive presentation will leave your learners looking for more!
Young scholars create models of chromosomes using clay, coins, beads, or marbles. They complete a worksheet regarding their crossover frequencies they created with their chromosomes and gene models. They read an essay on sex chromosomes and answer the accompanying questions.
Students demonstrate mitosis as a class with pvc 'chromosomes'. In this mitosis activity, students explore the phases of the cell cycle. They work together to demonstrate the cellular process with rope, cords, and pvc pipes.
Students evaluate the degree of chromosome similarity and difference between humans and apes. Students infer about the relationship between a human and ape based on similarities found.
Students examine chromosomes. In this chromosome lesson plan, students research chromosomes and chromosome mutations. Students discover diseases caused by chromosome mutation and analyze symptoms to determine the chromosome mutation.
Students explore chromosome karyotyping. In this chromosome karyotyping lesson plan, students use a chromosome kit to explore chromosome syndromes and disorders. They also produce a large model of a cell with chromosome to simulate cell division, the stages of cell division and the structures of the chromosomes.
Nine pages of material on inheritance make up this handout. It begins with a reading on alleles and how they can result in albinism. A chromosome modeling activity and questions follow. Junior geneticists learn to complete Punnett squares and participate in a coin toss simulation of allele pairing. They also learn about sex determination, sickle-cell anemia, and pedigree analysis. This resource provides a variety of activities and information to support several days worth of genetics instruction.
Juvenile geneticists will jive with this imaginative investigation of inheritance in dragons. Six pages begin with a detailed introduction to meiosis and homologous chromosome pairs. Instructions guide learners through a simulation in which they draw craft sticks marked with autosomes in order to decode the genes inherited by the baby dragon. An organized chart is provided, along with critical thinking questions and a partially drawn dragon on which learners will add the inherited traits. This is a gem of a worksheet!