Description

Inherited Traits and acquired traits for third grade. Students will learn that traits can be influenced by the environment and that some traits provide an advantage to organisms. Some traits are inherited, some traits are acquired. This resource is aligned with the NGSS standards for 3rd grade 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2 and 3-LS4-2 You will love this no-prep, ready to go unit on heredity, inherited traits, acquired traits, and more for third-grade science. See more details on this unit on my blog Inherited and Acquired Traits

This resource addresses the NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas of Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits and Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity.

These three standards are fully addressed through this resource. This is a great introduction to genetics and heredity.

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3-LS3-1 Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.

3-LS3-2. Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.

3-LS4-2.Use evidence to construct an explanation for how

the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

Also addresses Utah SEEd for third grade.

Utah SEEd Standard 3.2.2

Analyze data and identify patterns to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents. Examples of patterns could include the similarities and differences in traits between parent organisms and offspring and variation of traits in groups of similar organisms.

Utah SEEd Standard 3.2.3
Construct an explanation supported by evidence that the environment can affect the traits of an organism. Examples could include normally tall plants grown with insufficient water are stunted and pets that are given too much food and little exercise may become overweight.

Utah SEEd Standard 3.2.4

Construct an explanation supported by evidence for how variations in traits and behaviors can affect the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce. Examples of traits could include a plant with large thorns or strong smelling flowers and an animal’s camouflage, thick fur, or ear length. Examples of behaviors could include animals living in groups, shivering or using the sun for warmth, or migrating with changes of the season.

This resource includes a slide show, response pages, task cards, sorting cards, and answer keys.