Unit Plan

Genetics and the Master Race

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This Genetics and the Master Race unit plan also includes:

How did the beginnings of genetic research influence the Nazi party? A thorough, engaging unit incorporates the work of Gregor Mendel, the study of inherited traits, and the use of racism and discrimination during the Holocaust.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Use as a cross-curricular unit between biology and world history, as well as incorporating one of the listed novels in language arts
  • Have class members conduct their own research on genetics and other beliefs held by the Nazis in the 1930's, including the eugenics movement and the work of Josef Mengele
Classroom Considerations
  • Unit spans five weeks, but you could shorten the time period based on the concepts you cover in your curriculum
  • There is no table of contents to organize the unit, but the lessons and materials are still valuable
  • Some of the activities that focus on discrimination may be upsetting to class members; the unit includes a parent letter to send home for clear communication
Pros
  • Provides extension ideas for each subject matter, including a list of novels for language arts and lab experiments for science
  • Includes worksheets and graphic organizers to correspond with the lessons
  • Comes with answer keys for the multiple choice sections as well as suggested responses to the essay sections
Cons
  • None
Common Core